[00:03:39]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 14, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING.
I GUESS, WELCOME TO 2025 AS WELL.
WE HAVEN'T MET IN ALMOST A MONTH.
MEETING IS NOW IN ORDER AND THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY HILLARY ADAMS, WHO IS THE ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MR. ADAMS, THANK YOU VERY FOR COMING IN.
>> LET US BOW OUR HEADS AND JOIN OUR HEARTS TOGETHER AS WE LOOK TO GOD.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT US SAFELY TO THIS ROOM AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU FOR THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO ARE BEFORE US, LORD, THAT YOU HAVE APPOINTED TO THEM GREAT TASK, AND THEY HAVE DEDICATED GREAT PORTIONS OF THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO DIRECTING THIS COUNTY.
WE PRAY LORD, AS THEY DIRECT THE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTY, THAT YOU WILL BE WITH THEM, THAT YOU WILL GUIDE THEIR THANKING AND THEIR JUDGMENTS.
LORD, THAT YOU WILL BE WITH EACH ONE WHO IS IN THIS ROOM.
THERE MAY BE THOSE WHO HAVE BROUGHT BUSINESS TO THE COMMISSIONERS, GIVE THEM THE WISDOM TO SAY WHAT THEY WISH TO SAY.
AS WE LEAVE THIS ROOM TODAY, MAY WE FEEL THAT IT WAS GOOD TO BE HERE AND TO SEE THE DIRECTION THAT THESE MEN GIVE.
[00:05:02]
LORD, WE THINK OF THOSE IN CALIFORNIA WHO ARE GOING THROUGH SUCH GREAT DEVASTATION AND LOSS AT THIS TIME WITH THE FIRESTORMS. LORD THAT YOU WILL GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT, THAT YOU WILL SEND HELP.YOU WILL BE WITH ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO GO TO THEIR RESCUE.
WE PRAY NOW LORD THAT YOU WILL TAKE COMPLETE CHARGE OF OUR LIVES OF THIS MEETING IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
[Call to Order: Invocation – Rev. Paul Merritt, Church of the Nazarene, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT SAYS ONE NATION, ONE GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.>> THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] YOUR FAMILY AFFECTIVE.
[President’s Report Out]
>> THE COMMISSIONERS MET IN CLOSED SESSION DURING THEIR DECEMBER 17 MEETING TO CONDUCT EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS AND TO GET UPDATES FROM LEGAL COUNSEL UNDER AUTHORITY 2014, MARYLAND CODE, STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B 1 AND 7.
THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS, ADMINISTRATOR FREEMAN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX, PIO, JENNIFER RIDLEY, ATTORNEY STEWART BARREL, ATTORNEY MARK GABLER, AND PLANNING CODES DIRECTOR CRYSTAL DADS.
WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THIS MORNING? NONE BEING SEEN, WE'RE GOING TO ADJUST OUR AGENDA A LITTLE BIT TO ALLOW ROBIN K HALL OUR HEALTH OFFICER TO PROVIDE US WITH.[Robin Cahall, Health Officer]
[Update on Local Avian Influenza]
>> UPDATE. WE'RE GOING TO DO ROBIN FIRST.
WE APPRECIATE HER COMING IN. [LAUGHTER].
WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE ON HPAI SITUATION.
HPAI IS THE HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA SITUATION.
ON JANUARY 10, I WAS NOTIFIED BY DR. CRUM, WHO IS THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIAN THAT THERE WAS A HPAI SITUATION LOCATED IN RIDGLEY ON A BOILER FARM.
IT INVOLVES SIX HOUSES ON THE LOCATION.
WELL, FIRST, LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW AS TO WHAT THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ROLE IS IN THIS TYPE OF RESPONSE.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING DIRECTION FROM MDH, WHICH IS MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
WHEN THERE IS A KNOWN EXPOSURE THAT HAS OCCURRED, THEY'VE IDENTIFIED IT.
WE GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KNOWN EXPOSURE, AND THEN WE DO THE TESTING.
MDH TAKES CARE OF ALL OF THE ACTIVE SYMPTOM MONITORING, ENHANCED SURVEILLANCE FOR NOVEL INFLUENZA A DETECTIONS.
THEY TAKE CARE OF THE SURVEILLANCE FOR THE SYNDROMIC OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDER DATA, AND THEN MANDATORY TESTING OF REGULATED RAW MILK IN THIS INSTANCE.
THE LEAD AGENCY IS ACTUALLY MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE HAD NO KNOWN NEED FOR TESTING.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM MDH IN RELATION TO THAT.
WE HAVE NO HUMAN CASES OF AVIAN FLU IN MARYLAND AT THIS TIME.
IN TERMS OF THE HPAI, THOSE AT GREATEST RISK ARE THOSE THAT ARE IN CONTACT WITH DAIRY CATTLE, POULTRY, AND WILD BIRDS.
THIS INCLUDES FARMERS, HUNTERS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SMALL BACKYARD, CHICKEN FLUX.
TO DATE, THERE ARE 66 CONFIRMED CASES IN THE UNITED STATES.
I'M TRYING TO THINK, LET'S SEE.
INDIVIDUALS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE KNOWN EXPOSURE, THEY'RE SURVEILLED FOR SYMPTOMS FOR 10 DAYS AFTER THE LAST EXPOSURE TO AN INFECTED ANIMAL.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE TESTED AT THE TIME SYMPTOMS START.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE A KNOWN EXPOSURE AND THEN YOU GET TESTED.
YOU HAVE TO PRESENT WITH SYMPTOMS AND THEN YOU GET TESTED.
THEY DO THE IDENTIFICATION ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND THEY SEND IT TO US FOR TESTING.
WE CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WE HAVE THE MEANS AND ABILITY TO TEST.
ALL TESTING MUST BE APPROVED BY MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PRIOR TO ANY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONDUCTING A TEST.
ALL TESTS ARE RUN AT THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LAB.
I DO BELIEVE THEY GO OUT FOR CONFIRMATORY TESTING AS WELL, WHICH IS I BELIEVE IS OUT OF STATE.
THE PRELIMINARY TEST RESULTS CAN TAKE ONE TO TWO DAYS TO RETURN.
[00:10:03]
CDC HAS SOME GREAT INFORMATION IN REFERENCE TO THE HPAI.IN GENERAL, WE'VE CREATED AREAS ON OUR WEB PAGE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN REFERENCE TO EVERYTHING THAT THE CDC HAS IN REGARDS TO HPA.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A 10:00 AM REGULARLY SCHEDULED LOCAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CALL WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
HOLLY TRACE IS OUR DIRECTOR OF NURSING.
SHE WILL BE ATTENDING THAT MEETING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE BENEDICTINE SCHOOL, IT'S ALONG THE STRETCH OF THE SAME ROAD THAT THE HOUSES ARE LOCATED ON.
SO THAT ANY OF THEIR QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL ABOUT THE BENEDICTINE OR? NO. NOTHING ADDITIONAL IN TERMS OF THAT AT THIS TIME.
I THINK WE PROBABLY WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HUMAN [INAUDIBLE] ALONG WITH THIS VIRUS, MORE IS BEING LEARNED AS WE GO ABOUT THIS.
HUMAN TO HUMAN TRANSMISSION IS NOT OCCURRING AT THIS TIME.
THE THREAT TO HUMANS IS LOW. THAT CONTINUES.
HOWEVER, IF THE VIRUS MUTATES, THAT COULD PRESENT A PROBLEM.
ALL SPECIMENS THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR AVIAN FLU, THEY ARE EVALUATED TO DETERMINE THE VIRUS IS MUTATING, SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE DNA PORTION OF IT, ALONG WITH ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS AND MODE OF TRANSMISSION, ETC.
METHODS OF PROTECTION. DEFINITELY LIKE MONITORING CATTLE AND BIRDS FOR ILLNESS.
USE OF PROPER HAND HYGIENE, DO NOT BRING BOOTS THAT ARE WORN WHILE IN CONTACT WITH ANIMALS IN YOUR HOME.
YOU CAN GET THE SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINE.
THAT ACTUALLY HELPS YOU TO NOT BECOME SICK WITH THE SEASONAL FLU.
THEN REFRAIN FROM DRINKING UNPASTEURIZED MILK, MAKE SURE ALL CHICKEN IS COOKED TO AT LEAST 165 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, WHICH IS OUR STANDARD FOR EATING CHICKEN.
THIS WILL ASSIST WITH SOME OF THOSE PREVENTION METHODS.
THE VIRUS ACTUALLY LASTS ON SURFACES.
THERE'S A LOT THAT PLAYS INTO THIS.
IT'S REALLY DETERMINED BY THE TEMPERATURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AIR CIRCULATION, HUMIDITY, AND LIGHT EXPOSURE.
RESEARCH CURRENTLY SHOWS THAT THE VIRUS CAN LAST ONE DAY ON PLASTIC SURFACES AND SEVERAL HOURS ON HUMAN ON THE HUMAN SKIN.
AGAIN, WE HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT, ALONG WITH THE GOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
LET'S SEE. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD [INAUDIBLE]?
>> HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE SEE DEAD BIRDS [INAUDIBLE]?
>> ACTUALLY, MDA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, HAVE THEY HAVE DEDICATED LINES TO REPORT DEAD BIRDS.
THAT INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON DNR WEB PAGE.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT A LINK TO THAT ON OUR PAGE AS WELL.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. ROBIN, I KNOW JUST ABOUT ENOUGH ABOUT THIS TO BE A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS.
BUT OVER THE WEEKEND, WE HAD SOME CALLS ABOUT ODOR AND OF COURSE, PEOPLE WERE RELATING IT TO DAF.
THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF TIME OF YEAR THAT YOU WOULD BE TRANSPORTING OR APPLYING DAF.
OUR RESPONSE WAS THAT WE FELT THAT THIS MAY BE THE TRANSPORT OF THE DEAD BIRDS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.
>> I CAN'T SPEAK IN TERMS OF THE OPERATIONS PIECE OF THINGS.
I DID GET THAT QUESTION PRESENTED TO ME.
WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PUSHING THAT QUESTION UP OUR CHAIN.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, MDA HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT QUESTION AND SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SEND SOMEONE OUT TO INVESTIGATE.
I HAVE NOT GOTTEN FOLLOW UP FROM THAT, AND THAT WAS JUST YESTERDAY THAT THAT HAPPENED.
WE JUST ACTUALLY GOT THE NEW ACTION REPORT.
WE'LL COME BACK AROUND ON THAT ONE AND ASK AGAIN OR ASK FOR FOLLOW UP.
>> WELL, OUR RESPONSE WAS TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, IT IT WOULD NOT BE DAF AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
WE DO NOT CONTROL TRANSPORTATION OR APPLICATION IN ANY WAY, IT'S DONE THROUGH MDA. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. SURE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THAT'S PROBABLY THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW.
KATHLEEN AND I HAVE BEEN IN PRETTY MUCH CONSTANT CONTACT.
[00:15:01]
BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE PASS THEM ALONG.WE CAN PUSH THEM UPWARDS TO OUR MDH, [INAUDIBLE] WHO WILL GET THE INFORMATION FROM MDA.
MDH IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PARTNERS.
ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED IN REFERENCE TO THIS, JUST LET US KNOW.
>> SECRETARY ADDICTS DID REACH OUT TO ME.
[OVERLAPPING] ANYTHING ELSE COME COMES UP.
EXPOSURE TO THE INFESTED FLOCK IS LIMITED AT THE HUMAN EXPOSURE.
MDA IS NOT LETTING ANYONE IN WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY GO INTO THE HOUSES.
NO TESTING OR MONITORING OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IS BEING DONE UNLESS THEY SHOW SYMPTOMS.
>> THEY'RE MONITORING FOR SYMPTOMS DAILY AND THEN THEY WILL AS SOON AS SOMEONE BECOME SYMPTOMATIC, THEY WILL LET US KNOW, AND THEN WE WILL GO TEST.
OKAY. WHEN I SPOKE TO YOU YESTERDAY, ABOUT THE BUYER SECURITY ASPECT OF IT?
>> HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANYBODY FROM MDA OR?
>> YES. I ACTUALLY SENT THE RESPONSE TO KATHLEEN AND MADE REFERENCE TO THAT.
>> SO IT WENT DIRECTLY TO HER THEIR RESPONSE.
>> AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK IN REFERENCE TO THE SITE SITUATION, SO FORWARDING THAT INFORMATION.
>> I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT BUYER SECURITY AS A WHOLE, LIKE EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTY.
I MEAN MAKE SURE THE PRECAUTIONS ARE DONE.
>> YEAH. THIS JUST DOESN'T AFFECT ONE.
>> THE IMPACT OF IT IS SIGNIFICANT.
I THINK THAT ONE OF MY OTHER CONCERNS IN REFERENCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THIS MAY HAVE.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THAT'S ACKNOWLEDGED AND WE KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THAT AS WELL.
WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE BECAUSE THIS CAN BE A VERY STRESSFUL TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS.
>> YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF FINANCIAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
I BELIEVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL COME IN AND MAKE THE FARMERS AT LEAST WHOLE, SO THEY'RE NOT LOSING ANY MONEY.
I DON'T THINK THEY REIMBURSE FOR PROFIT OR INCOME OFF THE FLOCK, BUT THEY WILL AT LEAST HELP THE FARMERS TO BREAK EVEN.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ASSISTANCE COULD POTENTIALLY BE LIMITED BY WHETHER OR NOT THE FARMER IS FOLLOWING THE PROPER PROTOCOLS, WHICH IT SEEMS COUNTER INTUITIVE TO WASH YOUR HANDS OR CLEAN YOUR BOOTS BEFORE YOU GO INTO A DIRTY CHICKEN HOUSE TO PICK UP DECEASED BIRDS.
BUT IN ORDER TO PREVENT OUTSIDE CONTAMINATION IT'S VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.
I'M SURE SOME TYPE OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL THE FARMERS.
I'M SURE I'M SURE THE GROWERS DO A GOOD JOB OF TELLING THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
BUT THE MORE AGENCIES THAT THEY IT FROM, THE MORE LIKELY THEY WOULD BE TO FOLLOW THOSE PROTOCOLS.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
>> AGAIN, JUST LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OKAY?
>> WE ARE PURPOSELY TRYING TO PREVENT THE LOCATION OF, I GUESS, THE HOUSES FROM GETTING OUT.
WE DON'T WANT GENERAL PUBLIC, WE DON'T WANT MORE PEOPLE ON THE FARM THAT NEED TO BE.
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS PROVIDING SECURITY, SO WE JUST WE JUST DON'T WANT ANY MORE FOOT TRAFFIC OR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON OR OFF THE FACILITY THAN NEED TO BE.
>> NEXT UP. WE HAVE KATIE DOUGLAS, PROGRAM LEAD FOR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE EASTERN SHORE AND WE HAVE
[Katie Douglas, Program Lead, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore]
[Proclamation of January as National Mentoring Month]
A PROCLAMATION OF JANUARY AS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH IS KATIE HERE.HI. GOOD MORNING. YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE TABLE? I HAVE A PROCLAMATION SAYS, "CAROLINE COUNTY MARYLAND PROCLAMATION NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH.
WHEREAS THE START OF EACH YEAR, WE OBSERVE NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH TO HONOR THE PARENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, COACHES, AND MENTORS WHO DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND LOVE TO LIFTING AMERICA'S DAUGHTERS AND SONS, AND WHEREAS NOBODY SUCCEEDS ON THEIR OWN,
[00:20:03]
EVERY YOUNG PERSON STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE IS NURTURED BY THOSE WHO TEACH THEM THAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING THEY SET THEIR MINDS TO.WHETHER HELPING MENTEES STUDY FOR A TEST, LEARN A NEW SKILL OR LIFT THEIR HEADS AFTER A SETBACK.
MENTORS PROVIDE THEM WITH THE CHANCE THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND SET THEIR SITE EVEN HIGHER.
THROUGH THIS PROCESS, MENTORS, NOT ONLY HELP MENTEES ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS BUT ALSO INSPIRE THEM TO REACH BACK AND SUPPORT OTHERS IN NEED OF MENTORSHIP.
WHEREAS THIS MONTH, WE REFLECT ON THE TRANSFORMATIVE ROLE MENTORSHIP PLAYS AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY WAYS MENTORS HAVE HELPED SHAPE OUR NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS AND INNOVATORS.
AS A NATION, WE ARE STRONGER WHEN EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN STORY.
BY WORKING TO GIVE EACH PERSON A BETTER CHANCE AT SUCCESS, WE UNLOCK THEIR POTENTIAL AND EMPOWER THEM TO SERVE OTHERS IN THE SAME WAY.
WHEREAS WITH THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, MENTOR HAS FACILITATED MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS THAT REACH ACROSS CAROLINE COUNTY AND THE STATE, PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 2025 AS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTORING PROGRAMS IN FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WITNESS THEREOF, WE HAVE HERE TO SET OUR HANDS AND CALLS THE CEO OF CAROLINE COUNTY TO BE AFFIXED THIS 14TH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR 2025, SIGNED BY THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, J. TRAVIS BREEDING PRESIDENT, LARRY C. PORTER VICE PRESIDENT AND FRANKLIN BARTZ THIRD COMMISSIONER.
>> THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO COME UP AND RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION.
WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE. YOU AND WON'T MESS IT UP TODAY.
>> THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON WE HAVE DEBBIE BOWDEN, PUBLISHER OF CAROLINE COUNTY REVIEW WITH A DISCUSSION OF CAROLINE REVIEW AS A LOCAL NEWS SOURCE.
[Debbie Bowden, Publisher, Caroline Review]
GOOD MORNING, DEBBIE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOW YOU BEEN?>> NOT A POWERPOINT I DO WANT TO SHARE.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO WITH THE CAROLINE REVIEW.
WHILE I'M BRINGING THIS UP SOME QUICK HISTORY IN MAY OF 2024, I PURCHASED THE CAROLINE REVIEW FROM LORETTA AND RICH WARFIELD.
THE MAGAZINE, OF COURSE, IS A THREE MAGAZINE THAT'S PUBLISHED MONTHLY AS INFORMATION, IT'S DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT CAROLINE COUNTY.
IT'S ALSO DISTRIBUTED IN CERTAIN KEY PLACES IN EASTON.
AT THAT SAME TIME I STARTED TALKING WITH CONNIE CONLEY, WHO AS WE KNOW SHE'S HERE TODAY, SHE'S A WELL REGARDED REPORTER.
SHE FOUND THAT SHE HAD TIME ON HER HANDS TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT SHE DOES.
TOGETHER, SHE AND I TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO FILL IN SOME INFORMATION GAPS, SOME NEWS GAPS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
AS A BUSINESS, I STARTED LOOKING AT THAT AND KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE AND NEVER SUCCEED, TO TRY TO DO A NEWSPAPER, TO TRY TO REPLACE WHAT HAD BEEN DONE AS FAR AS A ACTUAL SHEET OF PAPER GOING OUT, DISTRIBUTE IT TO FOLKS IN THE COUNTY.
BUT ALSO STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON HOW COMMUNITIES LIKE CAROLINE COUNTY ARE GETTING THEIR NEWS OUT TO FOLKS.
IT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT THAT ONLINE IS THE WAY TO GO.
[00:25:01]
OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS, DEVELOPED A NEWS SERVICE THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE MAGAZINE.THE MAGAZINE IS THAT HUMAN INTERESTS, FEELING GOOD, DEEDS, MARRIAGE LICENSES, ET CETERA EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE.
BUT CAROLINE REVIEW.COM IS NOW POISED TO BE AN ACTUAL NEWS SERVICE.
YOU CAN SEE CONNIE'S STORY ABOUT WABA.
WE POST THESE ONLINE, AND WE'VE GOTTEN TREMENDOUS RESPONSE FROM THAT.
WE HAVE NEWS, AGAIN, AVIAN FLU DETECTED, STAYING UP TO DATE, COLONEL RICHARDSON BOYS BASKETBALL HOMECOMING.
THE NEWS IS THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE 10TH AND THEN IT GOT SHIFTED TO ANOTHER DATE NOW IT'S A 25TH.
IT'S ORGANIZED BY NEWS, WHICH IS A HARD HITTING NEWS. LET'S SEE THIS PULLS IT UP.
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE AT THE TOP, THE NAVIGATION BARS, AND THIS REALLY EXPLAINS HOW THE SITE IS ORGANIZED, HAVE HARD HITTING NEWS, COMMUNITY NEWS, WHICH VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE CAROLINE REVIEW MAGAZINE HAS QUITE A FEW PARTNERS THAT CONTRIBUTE INTERESTING CONTENT.
THE CASA THEY DO A BIT EVERY MONTH, SHORE LEGAL ACCESS, CAROLINE BETTER TOGETHER, ET CETERA EDWARD JONES, TALBERT, PROVIDE COMMENTS AND INTERESTING INFORMATION EVERY MONTH.
WE WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT ONLINE ALSO.
THE COMMUNITY NEWS SECTION IS WHERE THAT LIVES.
THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR, THERE WOULD BE NO CAROLINE REVIEW MAGAZINE WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR.
IT IS A GO TO SOURCE FOR ALL KINDS OF FOLKS FROM EVERYTHING FROM CHURCH SERVICES TO FUND RAISERS.
WE'RE TAKING THAT INFORMATION THAT'S PROVIDED FOR FREE IN THE MAGAZINE AND PUBLISHING IT ONLINE.
OBITUARIES, THAT IS BEING BUILT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE OBITUARIES FROM THE FUNERAL HOMES JUST AS A FEED SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT LAST MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO OFFER FOR OTHERS WHO WANT TO PUT OBITUARIES THAT PERHAPS THEIR LOVED ONE HAS A CONNECTION TO CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT WASN'T SERVICED BY ONE OF THE LOCAL FUNERAL HOMES FOR FREE.
IT'S A PASSION OF MIND THAT OBITUARY SOMETIMES IS THE ONLY TIME THAT A PERSON HAS THEIR NAME IN THE PAPER, AND I THINK THAT IT'S AN HONOR TO COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT NO COST TO THEIR LOVED ONES.
IN A MONTH OR SO, WE'LL HAVE THAT UP AND RUNNING.
THE E EDITION IS THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE MAGAZINE.
SO IT'S THE SAME THING YOU'RE SEEING AT THE LIBRARY OR THE POST OFFICE.
YOU CAN SEND US YOUR NEWS, YOU CAN ADVERTISE WITH US, AND THEN THERE'S WEB EXTRAS, WHICH ARE SYNDICATED NEWS STORIES OUTSIDE OF CAROLINE COUNTY FROM THE SERVICE THAT I USED TO BUILD THE WEBSITE.
COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER.
THIS IS VERY META, I'M NOT SURE I LIKE THIS.
YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AND THAT IS A TWICE WEEKLY FREE SUBSCRIBED NEWSLETTER.
YOU GET THE NEWS IN REVIEW ON MONDAY MORNING AT 6:00, AND THEN YOU GET THE EVENTS THAT ARE UPCOMING FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON THURSDAY.
IT'S A WAY THAT FOLKS CAN STAY ENGAGED AND KEEP KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY JUST IN THEIR INBOX.
NOW, IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.
I'VE ALREADY TALKED WITH JONAH AT THE LIBRARY, AND WE WILL START PROMOTING THE FACT THAT IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE NEWS AND YOU'RE IN THE LIBRARY, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT.
THERE'S AN ARTICLE THAT YOU WANT PRINT IT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE LIBRARY HELP YOU WITH THAT.
GOING TO DO THE SAME WITH THE SENIOR CENTERS.
JUST SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S A WAY FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET TO BE ABLE TO GET THE NEWS AND INFORMATION.
IT'S NOT SHOWING HERE AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE GLITCH, I'LL TRY IT ONE MORE TIME.
>> I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE HER ON GUEST NETWORK SO IT MIGHT BE. I'M NOT SURE.
>> MR. BURKS ADDED UP A MINUTE AGO.
>> THIS IS THE HOME PAGE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW.
ON THE OTHER PAGES, THERE'S A FACEBOOK FEED FROM THE CAROLINE REVIEW FACEBOOK PAGE.
[00:30:02]
THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE WE ARE SHARING INFORMATION FROM OTHER PARTNERS.IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE FACEBOOK OR DOESN'T GO TO FACEBOOK ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WANTS TO SEE WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED OR IF THE COUNTY IS OPENING LATE, OR IF THERE'S ANYTHING ABOUT THE AVIAN FLU, THEY CAN GO AND AT LEAST GET AN IDEA OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT FULLY, BUT WE'RE NOT USING FACEBOOK AS THE NEWS SOURCE.
WE'RE USING FACEBOOK AS A WAY TO SAY, COME HERE FOR THE NEWS SOURCE.
I'M GOING TO PAUSE THERE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS AS THE NEW SOURCE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> I THINK YOUR WEBSITE IS VERY WELL LAID OUT JUST LIKE DURBIN HERE.
>> THE STORIES ARE UPLOADED REAL TIME AS THEY'RE PRODUCED, THEY'RE PUT ON SO YOU CAN HAVE NEW STORIES ON DAILY.
>> YEAH. THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE STORIES, I GO THROUGH THE MONTH I DON'T PUT EVERYTHING UP AT ONCE SO THAT IF IT HAPPENS TO BE A SLOW NEWS TIME WHICH IT HAS NOT YET.
THERE'S AT LEAST NEW CONTENT FOR FOLKS TO SEE.
YEAH, IT IS WITHIN SIX HOURS IF THERE'S A BREAKING NEWS STORY THAT WE'VE GOT IT ONLINE AND THAT'S JUST AS A MATTER OF STAFFING.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN I PURCHASED THE MAGAZINE, IT WAS JUST ME.
CONNIE CAME ON BOARD AS A REPORTER BUT NOW THERE'S UP TO EIGHT PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON CAROLINE REVIEW MAGAZINE OR CAROLINE REVIEW.COM.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, ANOTHER REPORTER, A COUPLE OF OTHER FREELANCERS SO IT REALLY HAS GROWN REALLY QUICKLY.
THE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE NEWS AND INFORMATION TO THE CITIZENS OF CAROLINE COUNTY THROUGH FREE ACCESS.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT THE NEWS SITE ONLINE NOT BE BOGGED DOWN WITH A SUBSCRIPTION.
THAT IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER IT'S FOR FREE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THE MAGAZINE CONTINUED TO BE FREE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MS. WARFIELD MENTIONED IT IN 1980.
>> NOW COMES SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER.
I WANTED TO INCLUDE LEGALS AND I'VE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, RESPONSES FROM FOLKS TO SEE IF I COULD PUBLISH LEGAL NOTICES, PUBLIC NOTICES FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FROM GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ONLINE OR IN THE MAGAZINE.
THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AS YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE, HAS CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET FOR NEWSPAPERS OF RECORD, WHICH ALLOWS THE MUNICIPALITIES, THE LEGAL ENTITIES, THE COUNTY TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC NOTICES AND OPEN MEETING ACTS.
THERE'S FIVE CRITERIA, ESSENTIALLY, THAT IT'S MORE THAN FOUR PAGES, THAT IT'S PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED FOR THE COMMUNITY, THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, AND THEN IT HAS TO QUALIFY FOR POST OFFICE PERIODIC RATES.
THE REGULATIONS FOR MARYLAND ARE LET'S SAY FIVE PAGES.
THE REGULATIONS FOR PERIODIC RATE DESIGNATION IS ABOUT 10.
BASICALLY, WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS THAT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED A NEWSPAPER OF RECORD IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT NEWS WITH A PAID SUBSCRIPTION, ACCORDING TO THE POSTAL REGULATIONS.
THE POSTAL REGULATION SAYS THAT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR PERIODIC RATE, WHICH IS A CAVEAT OF THE MARYLAND REQUIREMENTS, THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUBSCRIPTIONS THAT ARE MORE THAN A NOMINAL FEE.
THAT DISQUALIFIES THE CAROLINE REVIEW MAGAZINE AND THE CAROLINE REVIEW ONLINE FROM BEING A NEWSPAPER OF RECORD.
I COULD LOOK INTO DOING A SUBSCRIPTION.
BUT THEN THAT GOES AGAINST WHAT I WANTED TO DO, WHICH IS PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION FOR FREE.
FROM A BUSINESS MODEL, I'M NOT SURE IT WOULD WORK.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS LEGISLATION PASSED.
IT WAS ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR DORCHESTER COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT IN THEIR COUNTY FOR THEIR COUNTY BUSINESS AND MUNICIPAL BUSINESS AND ANY LEGALS THAT CAME OUT OF THEIR COUNTY, THAT A NEWSPAPER OF RECORD COULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF ANY OF THE FOUR QUALIFIERS THROUGH MARYLAND LAW.
IN THIS CASE, WHAT I'M ASKING IS FOR CONSIDERATION THAT CAROLINE COUNTY BE ADDED TO THAT OR HAVE NEW LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW ANY PUBLICATION.
IT'S NOT JUST A CAROLINE REVIEW REQUEST,
[00:35:02]
IT WOULD BE ANY PUBLICATION TO NOT HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR PERIODIC RATES UNDER THE USPS IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED A NEWSPAPER OF RECORD.I'M INTRODUCING IT TODAY AND I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK TO TALK MORE OR TALK WITH ADMINISTRATOR FREEMAN AT ANY TIME ABOUT WHAT THIS REALLY LOOKS LIKE.
BUT I THINK THAT ALLOWS THEN THE WEBSITE TO BE A PLACE WHERE PUBLIC NOTICES CAN BE PUBLISHED FOR THE TOWNS AND FOR THE COUNTY AND BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS FREELY.
IT ALLOWS THAT IF THERE'S ROOM IN THE TIMELINE THAT IT COULD BE IN THE MAGAZINE AND BE DISTRIBUTED WIDELY ACROSS THE COUNTY.
WITHOUT THAT, I WILL LOOK INTO OTHER WAYS OF PERHAPS BEING ABLE TO OFFER THIS SUBSCRIPTION-BASED, BUT I THINK IT REALLY HELPS THE COMMUNITY IF WE CAN KEEP IT FREE AND KEEP THAT AS A CONDUIT FOR INFORMATION THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE OUT THERE.
>> I THINK IT'S A NO-BRAINER FOR ME.
>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, DEBBIE.
WE HAD OUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION LAST NIGHT AT SIX O'CLOCK BY ZOOM, AND YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROPOSED HOUSE BILL 74, WHICH IS THE LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICES, PUBLICATION IN NEWSPAPER, OR NEWSPAPERS IN GENERAL CIRCULATION.
IT TALKS ABOUT DIGITAL NEWSPAPERS.
THIS WAS INTRODUCED BY DELEGATE FOLEY. I HAVE IT UP HERE.
THESE ARE ALL WRITTEN IN WAYS YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
IT LOOKS LIKE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES IS GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BILL, SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE THE NEW STORIES.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US LIKE TO SEE OUR NAMES IN THE PAPER, BUT IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE, WE WANT THE INFORMATION TO BE ACCURATE AND WE WANT IT TO BE CLEAR.
I HAVE SAID FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND THIS IS NOT TO YOU DIRECTLY BUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT PUT ON THESE EVENTS.
IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO PUT ON THE EVENTS TO SCHEDULE THEM SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE FOUR THINGS HAPPENING ON THE SAME DAY IN THREE DIFFERENT TOWNS BECAUSE WE GET INVITED TO THINGS AND YOU SAY YOU CAN'T GO TO ALL OF THEM.
SUMMER FEST IS THE SAME TIME OF THE YEAR, STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL.
BUT EVENTS THAT ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THERE COULD BE SOME COORDINATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE EVENT ITSELF, SO THAT YOU'RE NOT HAVING PEOPLE WHO SAY, WELL, I'D LOVE TO GO TO THIS, BUT I CAN'T GO INTO THIS.
WE KEEP THAT. BUT I'LL SHOW YOU THIS BILL WHEN WE HAVE A BREAK HERE.
>> MR. MARKS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
>> NO, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
DIGITAL IS WHERE EVERYTHING IS GOING PLATFORM.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE LAST TIME I BOUGHT NEWSPAPER.
CAROLINE REVIEW'S BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE 1980, SO WE'RE GOING ON NOT JUST SHY OF 50 YEARS, SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> DEBBIE, WHEN DID YOU SAY THE DORCHESTER LEGISLATION GOT PASSED LAST YEAR?
BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE SUBSECTION A'S FIVE REQUIREMENTS.
IT SIMPLY ADDS A COUPLE OF OPTIONS THAT DORCHESTER CAN DO, BUT IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT SHE'S ALREADY DISCUSSED WITH YOU.
BUT I'M READING THE BILL RIGHT NOW, IT I JUST MIGHT TAKE CARE OF IT.
>> WHO WAS THE SPONSOR? WAS IT PURCHASER?
>> FOLEY IS THE SAME PERSON SPONSORING THIS BILL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> LAST YEAR? I THOUGHT IT WAS MOUNT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE.
>> YOU DON'T MIND THIS ONE AND I HAVE.
>> THERE'S ACTUALLY LEGISLATION THAT PASSED LAST YEAR IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT NOT SEEING HB 74 SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR WHERE IT'S A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE.
THE MARYLAND-DC-DELAWARE PRESS ASSOCIATION REQUESTED THAT THERE BE MORE TIME AND ASKED THE GOVERNOR TO VETO THAT SO THAT THEY COULD THEN HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE BILL.
BE CURIOUS TO SEE IF THIS HB 74 IS SOMETHING THAT THEIR LEGISLATIVE GROUP HAS LOOKED AT AND IS MORE CONDUCIVE FOR.
[00:40:03]
>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS THE SAME LANGUAGE AS THE EXISTING BILL, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH 1 OF THE SUBSECTION.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FIVE REQUIREMENTS.
IF THEY'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF THAT REQUIREMENT, THEY NEED TO WRITE IT MORE CLEARLY THAN THIS HOUSE BILL.
>> THIS IS A PRETTY SPARSE DESCRIPTION THAT WE HAVE.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THE SPONSOR WAS FOR THE DORCHESTER LEGISLATION?
>> YEAH. TO ATTORNEY BARREL'S POINT, THE LEGISLATION DID NOT CHANGE THE MARYLAND LAW, BECAUSE IT COULD NOT, BUT IT ALLOWED DORCHESTER TO CONSIDER PUBLICATIONS THAT DID NOT MEET ALL FIVE OF THE REQUIREMENTS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> [NOISE] NOT THE WAY I READ IT. ANYTHING IN THE DORCHESTER EDITION IS SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION A, WHICH HAS THE FIVE REQUIREMENTS.
YOU CAN MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO SUBSECTION A.
THIS IS JUST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT IT ALLOWS DORCHESTER TO PUBLISH NOTICES THROUGH PRINT AND DIGITAL FORMAT, WHICH THE SUBSECTION A DIDN'T ADDRESS.
IT INDICATES THAT IN DORCHESTER, THE TIME PERIOD FOR PUBLICATION STARTS ONCE THE FIRST ADVERTISEMENT OR NOTICE APPEARS IN PRINT OR DIGITAL.
THREE, IF THERE IS NO PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATION, THEN THEY CAN PLACE IT IN ANY DIGITAL PUBLICATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED IN DORCHESTER COUNTY, AND THAT REGULARLY CONTAINS LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR DORCHESTER COUNTY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INTENT WAS, BUT THEY DID NOT ELIMINATE THIS.
>> THAT SECOND PART THAT YOU READ WHERE IF IT CANNOT BE PRINT AND DIGITAL IT COULD BE DIGITAL ONLY, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE PERIODIC RATE REGULATIONS THAT COVER DIGITAL PUBLICATION.
>> WELL, WE'LL LOOK INTO IT AND MAYBE HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE DELEGATION ABOUT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. GOOD.
>> VERY GOOD JOB. VERY IMPRESSED DEBBIE.
>> DEBBIE, YOU CAN LOOK THAT UP.
KEEP GOING. NEXT UP, WE HAVE JONAH OWENS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
[Jonah Owens, Executive Director, Caroline County Public Library]
CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY,[Discussion of North County Library Branch Lease]
WITH A DISCUSSION OF NORTH COUNTY LIBRARY BRANCH LEASE. GOOD MORNING, JONAH.>> SARAH, DO YOU WANT TO APPEAR?
>> I'VE GOT OUR BOARD PRESIDENT, SARAH DAHL.
>> I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE HAPPY TO BE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE AGAIN.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, DOES ANYBODY WANT A COPY OF THE LEASE?
>> PERFECT. LITTLE LIGHT READING FOR YOU.
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE LIBRARY'S AGENDA FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS TRYING TO GET SOME MOMENTUM GOING TO GET THIS LEASE RENEWED BECAUSE ACCORDING TO SECTION 2.1 OF THE LEASE, IT WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 31ST.
WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS EVERY WHICH WAY.
LARRY HAS BEEN PART OF A VAST MAJORITY OF THEM.
I APPRECIATE THAT. HE'S GOT A LOT OF HISTORY AND BACKGROUND.
HELPS KEEP US ON THE RIGHT PATH.
ONE THING WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO YET IS GET MRDC TO THE TABLE TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT A NEW LEASE.
SINCE WE'RE GETTING SO CLOSE TO THE EXPIRATION DATE FOR OUR CURRENT LEASE, MY BOARD HAS REQUESTED THAT I COME BEFORE YOU AND ESSENTIALLY ASK YOU TO EXECUTE SECTION 2.3 OF THE LEASE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE CURRENT LEASE TO BE RENEWED AT ZERO DOLLARS PER MONTH FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO IT WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE LEASE EXPIRING, WHICH WOULD BE THE END OF JANUARY.
>> I'M NOT SURE I'VE KEPT YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH.
I THINK THE ATTORNEY THERE HAS KEPT YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH.
[LAUGHTER] I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MR. MAFFLIER OVER THE LAST WEEK OR TWO ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
[00:45:05]
I THINK MRDC AT THIS POINT IS IN BETWEEN ADMINISTRATORS.MY UNDERSTANDING FROM HIM IS THAT THEY HAVE SELECTED A PERSON, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED YET.
I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY THE HOLD-UP HERE FROM THAT END.
I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH BOB AND I KNOW DURING OUR MEETING THAT WE HAD AND WE DISCUSSED THE LEASE THAT WAS WRITTEN 30 YEARS AGO.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE IT AND DON'T CARE.
BUT I THINK THE INTENTION OF THAT LEASE WAS THAT AT THE END OF 30 YEARS, ANY EXPENSES OR LOANS OR MORTGAGES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCRUED FOR THAT BUILDING WOULD BE PAID OFF, AND THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY NEED FOR THE LEASE RATE TO BE PAID.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GATHERING FROM THIS.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BUILT, BUT CERTAINLY WASN'T INVOLVED.
BUT I THINK MY POSITION ON THIS THING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE OTHER MEMBERS CONSIDER IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DESIGNATE OR WE SHOULD INCORPORATE IN THIS LEASE RENEWAL SOME PAYMENT THAT IS MADE THAT WOULD BE USED TOWARD MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING.
THAT BUILDING IS 30-YEARS-OLD.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MAINTENANCE GOING FORWARD, AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT JUST SAY, WELL, THE LEASE SAYS WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY ANYTHING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN A GOOD [OVERLAPPING] WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT ORGANIZATION, WHO I THINK DOES A GOOD JOB.
THE ONE THING I'VE SAID FROM DAY 1 IS AS LONG AS I HAVE ANY CONTRIBUTION HERE, THERE WILL BE A LIBRARY IN GREENSBORO.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THERE TO BE ONE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COUNT ON THAT, AND I THINK YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A STRUCTURE OR SOMETHING SO THAT WHATEVER FIGURE WE COME UP WITH IS THEN PLACED INTO SOME TYPE OF A RESERVE FOR REPLACEMENT OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
WE CAN CALL IT RENT OR LEASE, WE CAN CALL IT WHATEVER WE WANT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT BUILDING BE MAINTAINED, BUT I DON'T THINK THE COUNTY CAN PAY TO MAINTAIN A BUILDING THAT WE DON'T OWN.
HOWEVER, THAT'S GOING TO BE STRUCTURED DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE BUILDING TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE AND NOT LEAKING.
I THINK WE'VE [OVERLAPPING] SOLVED THE HVAC PROBLEM THERE.
>> WE'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
STAFF COME IN AND IT'S IN THE MID-40S, LOW-50S.
WE HAD OUR GUYS COME OUT YESTERDAY.
THEY FOUND THAT THE UNIT PUT ON THAT BUILDING ABOUT A YEAR AGO IS WAY TOO SMALL TO BE ON THAT BUILDING.
THERE'S TWO UNITS THAT WERE INSTALLED.
ONE OF THEM WASN'T EVEN TURNED ON YET, AND THIS IS AFTER MRDC HAD THEIR CONTRACTORS OUT MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER OUR COMPLAINTS.
WE JUST HAD TO GET AGAIN AND REFRIGERATION OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE WITHIN ABOUT AN HOUR.
>> WELL, THE ONE CAVEAT THAT I WILL SAY HERE ABOUT ESTABLISHING A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP IS, I'M NO LONGER PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE BUILDING NOT BEING HEATED AND COLD AND LEAK-PROOF.
WHEN YOU LEASE A SPACE AND YOU COLLECT MONEY FOR IT, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS PROPERLY.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP SHOULD BE TRIED TO BE MAINTAINED.
>> WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO THERE ABOUT THE RECENT PROBLEMS?
>> I'VE REACHED OUT TO CASSY, WHO IS THEIR FACILITIES PERSON, AND I'VE REACHED OUT TO ABBY.
ABBY CONTACTED ME ON FRIDAY TO SEE IF WE WANTED TO HAVE OUR PEOPLE COME OUT SINCE THEIR PEOPLE COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE UNITS.
WE CALLED IN GAINING REFRIGERATION.
THEY SHOWED UP MONDAY MORNING.
>> WELL, IT'S 40 DEGREES IN THERE AND YOU CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS.
>> I'M NOT. I THINK WE'VE REACHED THE POINT WHERE CALLING IN OUR PEOPLE AND PAYING FOR THOSE PEOPLE IS OVER, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
THERE WERE NEW UNITS PUT ON THERE, IF THEY WEREN'T SIZED PROPERLY, AND IF THEY WEREN'T INSTALLED PROPERLY, I'M NOT SAYING THEY WEREN'T, BUT IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, YOU GO BACK TO THE CONTRACTOR FOR THAT.
[00:50:02]
THAT'S THEIR JOB, NOT OUT.BUT I'M NOT IN THE MOOD HERE TO CLOSE THE LIBRARY AND THINGS LIKE THAT LIKE WE WERE DOING BEFORE.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
AGAIN, I THINK A GOOD AMOUNT OF THIS WILL BE ALLEVIATED ONCE A NEW DIRECTOR IS IN PLACE, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THAT'S GOING TO BE.
>> I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU GUYS 100%.
I THINK THAT IT'S NOT REALISTIC TO THINK THAT THE BUILDING COULD BE MAINTAINED BETTER THAN IT HAS BEEN WITH NO RENT.
I ALSO THINK THAT THIS LEASE HAS NOT BEEN REALLY FOLLOWED A LOT OF THE PROVISIONS RELATED TO CAPITAL MAINTENANCE AND THAT THING.
MY THOUGHT PROCESS WAS THAT AND I THINK THIS TRACKS WITH WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS EVERYONE HAS HAD WITH MRDC, IS THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO CREATE A NEW LEASE THAT HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF SUCCESS AS FAR AS HOW SOME OF THOSE FUNDS ARE STRUCTURED AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS AS WELL ABOUT THE COST OF UTILITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE COMMON SPACES AND IN OUR PORTION OF THE BUILDING THAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE RESOLVED.
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BRING ALL THAT STUFF TO THE TABLE WITH THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND GET A NEW LEASE DRAFTED.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I'M HESITANT TO SAY WE SHOULD SIGN A NEW LEASE WITH A RENT PAYMENT.
I THINK THAT'S THE REASON WHY OUR THOUGHT WAS, COME HERE, RENEW THIS LEASE, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO BE OUR FINAL LEASE, AND HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TO THE TABLE WITH MRDC, RENEGOTIATE FROM SCRATCH, TERMINATE THAT RENEWED LEASE, AND THEN PUT IN PLACE ONE THAT WE THINK IS MORE LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM.
WE ARE OPEN TO IDEAS, BUT THAT IS A THOUGHT.
>> I THINK THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
I'M LOOKING AT THE COUNSELOR THERE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO, PARTICULARLY IN THE POSITION THAT THEY HAVE OF GETTING AN ADMINISTRATOR, BECAUSE UNTIL THEY HAVE THAT PERSON IN PLACE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WE TALK TO. THE PEOPLE THERE, I KNOW, HAVE ALL THE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN MAKE THE DECISIONS.
[NOISE] BUT I DON'T SEE WHERE WE HAVE ANY CHOICE.
>> RIGHT. BUT TO EXERCISE THE OPTION ON THIS LEASE, UNTIL A NEW ONE IS AGREED UPON.
>> WE WERE ALSO, AS SARAH SAID, WE WERE GOING TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE BILLING ON THE COMMON AREAS BECAUSE I THINK WE WERE.
THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME DISCREPANCIES THERE WHERE IT HAD BEEN SO MUCH AT ONE POINT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUMPED THE BUILDING HADN'T GOTTEN ANY BIGGER.
[OVERLAPPING] THE LIBRARY HADN'T GOTTEN ANY BIGGER.
THE CLEANING AREA HADN'T GOTTEN ANY BIGGER.
I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GO BACK AND RESOLVE THAT.
YOUR PROPOSAL IS TO BASICALLY EXTEND THE CURRENT LEASE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL WE CAN ENACT ANOTHER ONE.
>> WELL, WE SEND A LETTER THAT SAYS, THE INTENTION IS TO EXERCISE THIS 2.3.
>> YES. THAT'S THE NOTICE THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE BY JANUARY 31ST PER THAT PARAGRAPH 2.3.
>> IT'LL BUY US SOME TIME. HOPEFULLY, IT DOESN'T TAKE 30 YEARS TO IRON SOMETHING HELP OUT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THE ONUS WILL REALLY BE ON MRDC AT THAT POINT WITH THE NEW LEASE IN PLACE, WITH THE ZERO RENT PAYMENT TO COME TO THE TABLE.
>> GET SOME ACTION DONE. I THINK THEY WILL.
I THINK THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN CHARGE NOW ARE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH.
LARA SAID THEY'RE A BIT STUCK AT THE MOMENT, WAITING FOR SOMEONE NEW TO COME IN.
>> I THINK THAT THE ORIGINAL PART OF THIS LEASE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT WAS THERE WAS A LUMP SUM PAYMENT THAT WAS MADE IN THE BEGINNING.
I THINK THE THEORY WAS AT THAT POINT, THAT THAT MONEY WOULD BE USED OVER I THINK IT WAS WITH 30 WAS IT 30,000?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU WHERE THAT MONEY WENT OR WHERE IT IS.
>> THIS LEASE IS WITH THE COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, NOT WITH THE LIBRARY.
>> WE SAW THE LETTER NEEDS TO COME FROM THE COMMISSIONERS.
>> IF I COULD FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING COMMISSIONER PORTER SAID, I HAVE NOT THOUGHT IT THROUGH AT ALL, LITERALLY,
[00:55:02]
BUT ABOUT THE COUNTY SPENDING MONEY ON A BUILDING THAT IT DOES NOT OWN, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS HERE.I WONDER, SARAH, HAS ANYONE GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO THE IDEA OF BASICALLY A CONDOMINIUM REGIME WHERE THE SPACE OF THE LIBRARY COULD BE DEALT OFF SEPARATELY? WE'D HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THE COMMON AREAS AND SHARED EXPENSES OF SOME SORT.
BUT THEN THE COUNTY WOULD ACTUALLY OWN THE PORTION OF THE BUILDING THAT IT OCCUPIES, HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACCESS WHAT IT NEEDS TO FOR THE COMMON AREAS.
BUT THEN THE COUNTY WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF ITS OWN LIBRARY FACILITY, MAINTENANCE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, ALL THAT.
HAS THAT EVEN BEEN THOUGHT OF?
>> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. I FEEL LIKE THAT FACILITY HAS HAD SO MANY ISSUES THAT THE COUNTY HAS PROBABLY BEEN VERY HESITANT TO TAKE IT ON.
IT NEEDS A BRAND NEW ROOF, WE'VE GOT HVAC ISSUES, WE'VE GOT LEAKS, NOT OPPOSED TO IT.
EVERYTHING IS SEPARATE FROM OUR STANDPOINT.
WE HAVE SEPARATE ELECTRIC, SEPARATE WATER, OUR SECURITY SYSTEM SEPARATE, FIRE SYSTEM SEPARATE.
PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING IS SELF ENCLOSED FOR THE LIBRARY.
THAT'S SO THESE THREE GENTLEMEN HERE.
>> WOULD SAY THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A LAST RESORT [LAUGHTER] I JUST THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE BUILDING IS STRUCTURED, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD PORTION OFF FOR EXAMPLE, THE LEAK IN THE ROOF.
WHO'S THAT LEAK BELONGING TO, AND WHAT I WOULD RATHER I JUST DO WHEN I TALK ABOUT STRUCTURING THE WORDING OF THE LEASE WHEN IT GOES FORWARD, IF THEY WANT TO CALL IT A LEASE RATE OR RENT, THEY CAN DO IT.
I JUST DON'T I'M NOT GOING TO AGREE TO GIVE THEM MONEY AND SAY, HERE, TAKE THIS MONEY AND FIX THIS BUILDING.
IT'S GOT TO BE I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN. BUT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING TOWARD THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING.
I WOULD SAY THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE PROVISIONS IN THIS LEASE, GIVE THEM SOME TIME.
I DID NOT GET ANY TIME FRAME FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD ABOUT WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
I DON'T KNOW. IT COULD BE MADE BY NOW.
I JUST DON'T KNOW. I TALKED WITH HIM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
>> WHO SPECIFICALLY DO WE WANT TO DRAFT THIS LETTER?
>> OFFICE. I'M HAPPY TO. OFFICE OF LAW.
SHOULD BE SIMPLE. WE COUPLE SENTENCES.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER MET.
I KNOW THEY USED TO. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE ONE NOW.
>> WOULD THAT LETTER NEED TO COME BACK TO US FOR APPROVAL OR CAN WE MAKE A MOTION TO JUST HAVE DIRECTS TO THAT?
>> THEN I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY DRAFT A LETTER EXTENDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE CURRENT LEASE UNDER SECTION 2.3.
>> THEN GIVE ME PERMISSION TO SIGN IT CORRECT?
>> YES, AND AUTHORIZE THE PRESENT PROCEEDING TO SIGN THE LETTER?
MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. WELL, THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW SARAH YOU'VE PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO THIS.
BUT JONES PAID [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU TIME JONES.
>> THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. APPRECIATE IT.
>> LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
[01:04:56]
>> I WILL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER AND MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM,
[01:05:01]
WHICH IS KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.>> ON DECEMBER 23RD, I BELIEVE, COMMISSIONER BREEDING STEWART, MYSELF AND DANNY AND SHERIFF BAKER MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND KENT COUNTY TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.
ONE OF THE WELL, I GUESS, THE ITEM THAT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO HAMMER OUT AND AGREE UPON IS THE AGREEMENT.
WE HAD BEEN UNDER THE IMPRESSION ENTERING INTO THIS DISCUSSION WITH THOSE JURISDICTIONS THAT WE WERE GOING TO FORM A REGIONAL AUTHORITY TO MANAGE THE DETENTION CENTER.
STEWART HAD DRAFTED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ENABLE THAT PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AT THIS POINT.
IT WAS DEFINITELY OVER A YEAR AGO.
CIRCULATED THAT AMONGST THE WELL, WE SENT THAT TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY WHO WERE COORDINATING MEETINGS WITH THE INTENTION TO CIRCULATE THAT, AND IT WAS NOT CIRCULATED.
THERE WAS NEVER REALLY ANY DISCUSSION BY THE PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD FORM AN AUTHORITY OR DEVELOP THIS REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER VIA AGREEMENT WITH OUR PARTNER JURISDICTIONS.
STEWART AND I ATTENDED A MEETING A FEW MONTHS AGO TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
AT THAT POINT, WE WERE ADVISED AND I AGREE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT LATE IN THE GAME AT THIS POINT TO FORM AN AUTHORITY BEFORE WE CAN START APPLYING FOR STATE FUNDS AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE CAN'T STILL PURSUE AN AUTHORITY ALONG THE SAME TRACK, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN WAIT HOLD UP OUR PROCESS FIRST.
ON THE 23RD, WE MET AND WE MET ABOUT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, WHICH WE AT THAT POINT, STILL HAD THE FIRST DRAFT, WE HAD SENT EDITS AND THEY HAD NOT BEEN INCORPORATED YET, I DON'T BELIEVE.
AT THAT MEETING, A REVISED AGREEMENT WAS HANDED OUT, BUT WE CAROLINE COUNTY HAD NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT AGREEMENT YET.
I THINK THE FOCUS OF OUR DISCUSSION REMAINED ON IF
[Katheleen Freeman, County Administrator]
[Discussion of the Regional Detention Center]
WE FORGED ON WITH AN AGREEMENT RATHER THAN AN AUTHORITY, HOW WOULD THAT LOOK? WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE PARTNER JURISDICTIONS VERSUS QUEEN ANNE COUNTY? SINCE WE WOULD BE USING QUEEN ANNE COUNTY, HUMAN RESOURCES, PROCUREMENT.ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND ULTIMATELY LEAVING AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PERSON WITH THE POCKETBOOK WITH ALL THE AUTHORITY OVER THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.
EVEN IF WE FORM AN OVERSIGHT BOARD, THAT FACT STILL REMAINS.
THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND IT IF WE DO AN AGREEMENT VERSUS AN AUTHORITY.
OUT OF THAT DISCUSSION, QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY PROPOSED TO TAKE ANOTHER STAB AT THE AGREEMENT TO SEE IF THEY COULD SATISFY OUR CONCERNS.
WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
WE JUST RECEIVED THIS AGREEMENT ON MONDAY.
I DID EXCHANGE SOME E MAILS WITH BOTH SHELLY FROM KENT COUNTY AND TODD FROM QUEEN ANNE COUNTY ABOUT POSSIBLY POSTPONING THE MEETING TOMORROW SINCE WE HADN'T RECEIVED THE AGREEMENT YET, AND, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING A SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION ON THIS AGREEMENT, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANOTHER MEETING IS GOING TO BE PARTICULARLY PRODUCTIVE.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MON ASKED ME IF HE COULD GET THIS TO US BY MONDAY, IF WE COULD DISCUSS IT ON OUR AGENDA TODAY AND THEN MAKE A CALL AT THAT POINT IN TIME WHETHER OR NOT WE FELT WE COULD STILL MEET TOMORROW.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. I HAVE I THINK EVERYONE I HOPE EVERYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT.
I CAN'T SAY THAT I'VE UNFORTUNATELY HAD A CHANCE SINCE YESTERDAY TO READ IT AND FULLY PROCESS IT.
BUT I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BREEDING AND STEWART HAVE BOTH BROUGHT UP SOME CONCERNS.
I'LL LIST OFF REALLY QUICK COMMISSIONER BREEDING'S CONCERNS, AND THEN I GUESS I'LL OPEN IT FOR DISCUSSION.
U AFTER ALL THE DEBT OBLIGATION IS SATISFIED, THIS REVISED AGREEMENT BASICALLY SAYS THAT QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY CAN EXIT THE AGREEMENT WITH TWO YEARS NOTICE.
IT ALSO SAYS, I THINK THAT WE COULD EXIT IT WITH MAYBE LESS THAN ONE YEAR'S NOTICE.
I THINK THIS GIVES US SOME CAUSE FOR CONCERN, PARTICULARLY WITH QUEEN ANNE COUNTY HAVING THE OPTION TO
[01:10:02]
EXIT THE PRIME MEMBER WITH TWO YEARS NOTICE, IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN, BUT IF THAT HAPPENED, THAT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO CONSTRUCT ANOTHER FACILITY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO HOUSE OUR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS IN THAT TWO YEAR TIME FRAME.I SUSPECT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEGOTIABLE WITH THEM, HOWEVER, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO.
ANOTHER CONCERN IS IN THIS AGREEMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF AUTONOMY AND AUTHORITY AND, I GUESS, POWER GIVEN TO THE WARDEN, AND IT WOULD TAKE UNANIMOUS DECISION OF THE BOARD TO OVERRIDE A DECISION OF THE WARDEN IN SOME CASES.
THAT'S SOME CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
THE WARDEN COULD NOT BE REMOVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE QUEEN ANNE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AGAIN, COMING BACK TO THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL IDEA OF FORMING AN AUTHORITY AND AN AGREEMENT UNDER AN AUTHORITY, ONE JURISDICTION WOULD NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF LEVERAGE AND AUTHORITY OVER OR POWER OVER THE OTHER TWO JURISDICTIONS.
THERE'S SOME CONCERN ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY MOVED TO A COUNTY EXECUTIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK COUNTY ASPNARY STEWART BARREL CAN ADDRESS THAT.
OR YOU'VE HAD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THAT ANYWAY.
THEN WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH QUEEN ANNE COUNTY AND AMONGST OURSELVES ABOUT OUR OWN EMPLOYEES, AND HOW MOVING TO A REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER WOULD IMPACT OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE I THINK ALL OF US WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE PROTECTED AND STILL HAVE JOBS.
IF THEY WANT JOBS, THEY MAY NOT ALL WANT TO GO TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY ABOUT THAT, AND WE HAVE ASSURANCES, WE'LL HAVE SOME ASSURANCES FROM TODD MON THAT BASED ON THEIR ANALYSIS, ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE NEEDED.
ALL OF THE TAKE TAKEN A LOOK AT THEIR RETIREMENT, THEIR EMPLOYEES WHO WILL RETIRE BY THE TIME THIS GOES INTO PLACE AND THE RANKS AND THE NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES AND INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS FROM EACH JURISDICTION.
IT'S HIS OPINION RIGHT NOW THAT ALL EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A POSITION IN THE NEW DETENTION CENTER.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HARD TO WRITE IN THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE YOU JUST IN SO MANY VARIABLES.
BUT THE AGREEMENT DOES SAY THAT THE THREE MEMBER JURISDICTIONS EMPLOYEES FROM ALL JURISDICTIONS WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN THE INITIAL HIRING.
HOW THAT TRANSITION TAKES PLACE WILL STILL BE A CHALLENGE.
CAROLINE COUNTY IS NOT ON THE CORES SYSTEM, AND BOTH QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND I BELIEVE KENT COUNTY ARE.
THAT POSES SOME ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES FOR INCORPORATING OUR EMPLOYEES INTO THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY RETIREMENT IN THE CORE SYSTEM.
THAT'S AN ANALYSIS THAT I THINK DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX WOULD HAVE TO DO FOR US. I'LL STOP THERE.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT WERE INITIALLY BROUGHT UP AND I'LL OPEN THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR STEWART YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT THE ONE PROBLEM.
>> IF QUEEN ANNE'S WORD UP GO TO THE BASICALLY THE BECOME A CHARTER COUNTY WITH A COUNTY SEPARATELY ELECTED COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THE CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO BY THE PREDECESSOR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE STILL BINDING ON QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
THEY DON'T GET OUT OF ALL OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS BY CONVERTING TO A CHARTER SYSTEM.
THE WORDING OF THE CONTRACT AMONGST THE THREE MEMBER JURISDICTIONS WOULD SIMPLY BE CHANGED IN SOME SMALL WAYS TO ALLOCATE THE DECISION MAKING FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO THE COUNCILS OR AND OR THE EXECUTIVE.
THAT WOULD BE SORT OF INTERNAL HOUSEKEEPING ON THEIR PART, NOT THAT IT WOULD MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE OTHER TWO JURISDICTIONS.
>> ONE THING I SHOULD MENTION, I DIDN'T BRING THIS UP AND I NEED TO.
THEY DID ADD LANGUAGE IN HERE ALSO ABOUT MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION IF THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THEY DID TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS IN THAT MANNER.
I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT, WE REALLY IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE THIS.
[01:15:04]
IT'S FUNDING IS COMING DUE.BILLS ARE GOING TO BE DUE SOON.
>> INITIALLY, I WASN'T AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I STILL AM NECESSARILY HUNG UP ON THE NEED TO ESTABLISH AN AUTHORITY.
I THINK DEFINITELY WITH THE AUTHORITY, IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR THE SEPARATION OF POWER BETWEEN THE HOST COUNTY AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FACILITY TO HAPPEN.
NOT THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE THROUGH THROUGH AN AGREEMENT.
I JUST THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT THE SEPARATION IS CREATED WITH THE AUTHORITY AND THEN THE POWER RETURNED THROUGH WHATEVER WE AGREE TO IN THE AUTHORITY.
HERE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SKIM OFF AS MUCH CONTROL OF THE OPERATION OF THE FACILITY AS WE CAN.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WARDEN, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
I HONESTLY, I'M REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THE INVESTMENT.
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, DANNY 20 TO $30 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT?
>> I THINK SOME OF THE THE INITIAL NUMBERS, I THINK WE WERE ANYWHERE 15, 20, I SAY PROBABLY 20 ON THE HIGH END FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE.
ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD AT THE MEETING ON THE 23RD WAS HOW WOULD EACH COUNTY EVEN CONTRIBUTE THAT.
I WOULD IT BE IN QUEEN ANNE'S TAKING A BOND FOR 20 YEARS AND US PAYING THAT OVER 20 OR EACH COUNTY GOING ON THEIR OWN AND COMING UP WITH THAT MONEY UP FRONT.
THAT I THINK WAS ANECDOTALLY TALKED ABOUT, BUT NOTHING WAS SETTLED OR INCLUDED IN THE AGREEMENT TO DECIDE ON HOW THAT LOOKED AS WELL.
>> YOU GUYS GOT ANY QUESTIONS?
>> COMMISSIONER COLDER STATED EARLIER BACK TO THE LIBRARY THAT, YOU PUT MONEY INTO SOMETHING, AND THEN IT'S NOT EVEN YOU HAVE NO SKIN IN THE GAME.
YOU PUT THIS CAPITAL INVESTMENT UP, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, DO YOU REALLY HAVE ANY SKIN IN THE GAME ON ANYTHING AT ALL?
>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I POINTED OUT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH KATHLEEN WERE, AND I RAN THIS HYPOTHETICAL BY HER COMING FROM PLANNING AND CODES WAS START A PLANNING AND CODES DEPARTMENT FROM SCRATCH.
HIRE YOUR ENTIRE STAFF BASED OFF OF 45 MINUTE INTERVIEWS AND RESUMES.
WE ALL KNOW THAT TRIAL BY FIRE AND ACTUALLY WORKING WITH PEOPLE DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY IS THE ONLY WAY YOU REALLY GET TO KNOW THEIR WORK ETHIC AND, THEIR CAPABILITIES.
TO ME, ONCE YEAH, WE HAVE EXITS IN THESE AGREEMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXIT AND START HE ON FACILITIES AGAIN, BUT REALISTICALLY, IS THAT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN? CAN WE IMAGINE THE LEVEL OF PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO SEPARATE AND START A FACILITY AGAIN? WHEN WE LEFT THE MEETING, YOU KNOW, NATURALLY, A LOT OF THINGS WHEN YOU LEAVE AND YOU'RE RIDING BACK, YOU KNOW, THINGS COME TO MIND.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS, ASSUME THAT, IN THIS DOOMSDAY SCENARIO, BUT SOMETHING HAPPENS.
WE HAVE A CAROLINE COUNTY INMATE ESCAPE FROM THIS FACILITY 15 YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
THEY DO SOME HORRENDOUS ACT ON A NEIGHBOR OR A CITIZEN OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
WE COULD ALL IMAGINE WHAT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY WOULD PIVOT, AND THEY WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE NOT HOUSING. CAROLINE COUNTY PEOPLE ANYMORE.
THERE COULD BE A LARGE GROUNDSWELL OF PEOPLE THAT ELECTED EITHER COMMISSIONERS OR,
[01:20:05]
WHATEVER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.I'M ASSUMING THERE'S NOT ANY TALKS THAT QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY IS GOING TO CHANGE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO RUN THROUGH ALL THE SCENARIOS HERE.
BUT THEY ELECT A GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS THAT RUN ON WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HOUSE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY INMATES IN THIS FACILITY.
>> WE'RE KICKED TO THE CURB, $15 MILLION OUT THE WINDOW, NO BUILDING IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT, AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO STAND UP OUR OWN FACILITY.
THOSE WERE THE COUPLE OF SCENARIOS THAT ARE RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND.
I'M REALLY STRUGGLING WITH IT THE WAY IT'S CURRENTLY DRAFTED.
>> WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO ADD LANGUAGE THAT ONCE THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED AND PAID FOR, IF QUEEN ANNE COUNTY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DON'T WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOU ANYMORE, YOU'RE DISMISSED, YOU HAVE TWO YEARS TO GET OUT.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO, WE COULD CREATE A SCENARIO WHERE THEY WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO PAY BACK SOME OF THE?
>> WHAT REFERENCES? IT REFERENCES DEBT?
>> WE'RE EACH TAKING OUR OWN NOTE.
WHO'S DEBT? IS IT JUST QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY'S DEBT? IS IT EACH COUNTY? COULD WE PERPETUALLY JUST KEEP CAROLINE COUNTY IN DEBT? WE OWE FIND SOME LENDER TO LEND US FIVE BUCKS ON THE BUILDING, AND WE'RE PERPETUALLY IN DEBT.
>> I THINK THE INTENT, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IS THE DIRECTION NOW, BUT ORIGINALLY, JUST LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE AND SOME OF THE OTHER PARTNERING PROJECTS AS QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, BEING A LARGER, MORE FINANCIALLY STABLE COUNTY HAS ALWAYS HAD A BETTER BOND RATING AND HAS GONE TO BOND FOR THE LARGER [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY'RE INTERESTED [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE THEY ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.
TO ME, THAT SECTION ABOUT DEBT AND THE 20 YEARS FOR THAT DOES NOT FIT OR RELATE INTO WHAT THEY DISCUSSED ON THE 23RD.
IN MY MIND AND WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY FINANCIALLY AT, AGAIN, IF WE ENTERED INTO, WE WOULD WANT TO PAY OURS PROBABLY MORE THAN LIKELY UPFRONT AND GET OUT OF IT AND NOT HAVE TO TAKE A 20-YEAR BOND ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
BUT EACH COUNTY IS GOING TO BE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION, SO HOW DO YOU GENERALIZE DEBT.
>> BUT IF WE'VE PAID 15 MILLION, WE'LL JUST SAVE 15 MILLION, AND WE DECIDE TO SEPARATE, IS THE SEPARATION.
>> WE HAVE NO EQUITY IN THE BUILDING [OVERLAPPING].
>> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD OWE US FOR OUR SHARE OF THE EQUITY IN THE BUILDING?
>> AT LEAST WITH SCHOOLS, WE COVER THE PROPERTY AND THE STRUCTURE, THE LIBRARY.
ANY OTHER CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE, WE AT LEAST HAVE SOME FORM OF.
>> WELL, [NOISE] I THINK THAT THESE THINGS ALWAYS SOUND LIKE GOOD IDEAS, BUT THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS, AND WE'RE NOW IN THE DETAILS.
I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE WHOLE PREMISE THAT I THINK THAT WE STARTED LOOKING AT THIS WAS THE CONDITION OF OUR FACILITY.
DO WE WANT TO PUT THE MONEY INTO OUR FACILITY? CAN WE PUT THE MONEY, FISCALLY, INTO OUR FACILITY TO BRING IT TO WHERE WE THINK IT SHOULD BE? THE WHOLE PREMISE WAS, WELL, MAYBE INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, WE CAN CONSOLIDATE HERE AND DO [NOISE] A REGIONAL FACILITY, WHICH MADE SENSE.
I TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN WITH THE, WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS THING, THE AUTHORITY IS WHAT WE WANT.
THEY SAY, WELL, IT'S TOO LATE.
WELL, IT'S NOT TOO LATE BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER TALKED ABOUT ANYTHING FROM OUR SIDE, OTHER THAN AN AUTHORITY FROM THE BEGINNING.
I CAN'T HELP THE FACT THAT INFORMATION ISN'T DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
WE GET INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED TO US.
I CAN'T HELP WHAT'S GIVEN TO THE QUEEN ANNE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR KENT COUNTY, IT'S NOT MY POSITION TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT I THINK MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE STICK WITH THE AUTHORITY.
THE MAIN GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE OUR MONEY IS SPENT PROPERLY, MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE BEING TREATED FAIRLY.
IF WE CAN'T DO THAT UNDER AN AGREEMENT, THEN I'M NOT GOING TO BE PREPARED TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT.
[01:25:02]
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AN AUTHORITY, IF THAT AUTHORITY CAN BE STRUCTURED TO OUR BENEFIT AND THE WAY WE LIKE IT, GOOD, IF IT CAN'T, WE EITHER SEEK ANOTHER PARTNER, WHICH I THINK THERE IS A ANOTHER VIABLE PARTNER HERE, BUT WE EITHER DO THAT OR WE DECIDE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY ON OUR FACILITY.IF WE DO THAT, OUR PRIORITY LIST OF SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE REALLY IS GOING TO CHANGE.
THE SOONER WE KNOW THAT THE BETTER OFF WE'RE GOING TO BE WHEN IT COMES TO PRIORITIZING FOR LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS DOWN THE ROAD.
[NOISE] IF IT'S EVERYONE'S CONSENSUS THAT WE'RE BETTER WITH THE AUTHORITY, AND IF THAT AUTHORITY CAN BE STRUCTURED THE WAY WE WANT IT, LET'S DO IT.
IF NOT, SEND AN EMAIL, TELL THEM WE WANT THE AUTHORITY, AND WE WANT AN ANSWER WITHIN 30 DAYS.
NO ANSWER IS A NEGATIVE ANSWER AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
I DON'T WANT TO GET ROPE-A-DOPED ON THIS THING ANYMORE.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, THAT'S A NO, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
>> THEY DID WRITE INTO THE AGREEMENT THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS, THAT IF AUTHORITY COULD BE FORMED, ALL THE MEMBERS WOULD CONSIDER FORMING THE AUTHORITY.
I ASKED JUST TO GET SOME THERE.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR SENSE OF THE WILL TO EVEN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, THOUGH?
>> YEAH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S MUCH INTEREST IN PURSUING THE AUTHORITY.
>> NO, I THINK THEY'RE JUST TELLING YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.
>> THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. TODD MAY CALL ME AND SAY, WHAT? I DON'T KNOW.
>> I AGREE WITH LARRY ON THIS.
>> THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE AND THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BETWEEN THE AUTHORITY CONCEPT, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY APPROACHED ABOUT AND WENT DOWN TO VIRGINIA, AND WE STUDIED, AND WE BASICALLY RELIED UPON THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, [NOISE] AND WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED NOW, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES ARE THAT THE AUTHORITY WAS TO BE A STANDALONE ENTITY GETTING ITS OWN INSURANCE THROUGH [INAUDIBLE].
IT WOULD HAVE A GOVERNING BOARD MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE THREE COUNTIES, THAT GOVERNING BOARD WOULD BE A REAL BOARD.
IT WOULD OWN THE BUILDING, IT WOULD OWN THE CAMPUS.
THE DEAL BEING PRESENTED HERE IS, QUEEN ANNE'S OWNS EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE EMPLOYEES, THE BUILDING, IT'S THEIR PERSONNEL REGULATIONS, IT'S THEIR PROCUREMENT.
THE WARDEN IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THOSE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THIS OVERSIGHT BOARD IS A FACADE TO ME.
BECAUSE IF THE WILL OF THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE IS WE WANT SOMETHING REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT BOARD SAYS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MUCH OF THE POWER.
>> OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I THINK THIS DEAL HAS TO BE STRUCTURED TO REACH THOSE GOALS.
I GOT NO ARGUMENTS WITH QUEEN ANNE COUNTY, AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THEIR POSITION IN THIS.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO CREATE THIS THING AND TO HAVE IT BE TO THEIR BENEFIT. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IF IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE THREE OF US CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, THAT WE CAN LOOK SOMEBODY IN THE FACE FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, I'M NOT GOING TO AGREE TO IT.
JUST A QUICK CAVEAT HERE, AND COMMISSIONER BREEDING WAS ON THE CALL LAST NIGHT, THERE IS A BILL THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED EVERY YEAR THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE THE LAW TO REQUIRE EVERY COUNTY GO TO A CHARTER GOVERNMENT.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS PERSON WHO KEEPS INTRODUCING THIS BILL HAS IN MIND, THEY GOT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
EVERYBODY'S LIKE, OH, IT'LL NEVER PASS.
I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO SAY.
[01:30:02]
>> I HAVE A THEORY BECAUSE I'VE READ IT.
MY THEORY IT'S TO FORCE THE CREATION OF COUNCIL DISTRICTS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE SECONDARY FIGHT IS THE DRAWING OF THOSE ELECTION DISTRICTS TO ELECT ONE COUNCILMAN FROM THAT DISTRICT.
THAT'S THE SECOND PHASE OF WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT, IN MY OPINION.
>> TO ELECT A COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO RUN THE COUNTY.
I'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL TO SAY IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.
IF WE CAN'T STRUCTURE THIS THING IN AN AUTHORITY THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT US EQUALLY WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES, IT'S A NO GO FOR ME.
>> IF I COULD, BEFORE YOU TWO TO HAVE MORE COMMENTS, I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON IT.
I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT.
NOW, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF IT, BUT PRESUMABLY BY COMBINING OUR FORCES WITH QUEEN ANNE COUNTY AND KENT COUNTY WITH ALL OF THE MANDATES AND REQUIREMENTS AND CORRECTIONS, AND HAVING ONE FACILITY INSTEAD OF THREE SEPARATE FACILITIES, THERE'S POSSIBLY SOME SUBSTANTIAL COST SAVINGS IF WE PARTNER WITH THEM, EVEN IF IT'S UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FORMAT.
I ASKED MYSELF, ONCE WE HAVE MADE THE TRANSFER OF STAFF, EMPLOYEES TO THIS FACILITY, AND THINGS ARE SET UP IN PLACE IF THAT COMES TO FRUITION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN AGREEMENT, IS THAT STILL A BETTER SYSTEM THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW? MY QUESTION IS IF WE FEEL THAT IT IS, WHAT WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE IN THE AGREEMENT FOR US TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS?
>> I THINK AT THE MINIMUM, IT WOULD BE THE QUESTIONS THAT PRESIDENT BREEDING HAS RAISED.
TO SEND US SOMETHING YESTERDAY, AND ASK US TO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
>> WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN IT FOR THE COUNTY TO RECOUP THE EQUITY IN THE BUILDING.
IF THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OPTED TO EXIT, WE'D HAVE TO GET EVALUATION OF THE BUILDING DONE, AND AT THAT TIME, THEY'D HAVE TO PAY WHAT THE VALUE OF IT AT, I'M NOT WALKING AWAY FROM THAT, I'M NOT BEING FORCED OUT THE DOOR.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR DEAL TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> A SHARE OF THE BUILDING INVESTMENT.
>> AT THE TIME, I'M SURE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WERE THAT, BUT VALUE THE BUILDING IN THE SAME PERCENTAGE THAT WE CONTRIBUTED TO BUILDING, WE'RE GETTING OUT OF IT WHEN WE LEAVE.
>> IT'S LIKE A DIVORCE. YOU BUY THE OTHER PARTNER UP. [LAUGHTER].
>> YEAH. THAT'S HOW YOU WOULD ADDRESS THAT PORTION OF IT.
BUT IT STILL WOULD BE PAINFUL TO SET IT UP.
WARDEN SCOTT, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE IN THE FACILITY AT ANY GIVEN TIME RIGHT NOW, HIGH-LOW AVERAGE, ABOUT 40?
>> FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS, NOVEMBER WAS 47 HIGH AND LOW OF 36.
NOVEMBER WAS 47 AND A LOW OF 36, DECEMBER WAS 46 AND A LOW OF 33.
>> AND YOU HAVE 40 STAFF POSITIONS IN TOTAL OVER THERE, NOT ALL FULL? I THINK I SAW 37 FULL.
WHAT'S A NORMAL AT A LARGER FACILITY, IS THERE A RATIO STAFF MEMBER TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL RATIO?
>> CHARLES, CAN YOU COME UP SO THE MIC PICKS YOU UP?
>> THAT DEPENDS ON YOUR POLICIES.
USUALLY, AS FAR AS CUSTODY, IT'S ABOUT 60:1.
BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE LAYOUT OF YOUR FACILITY.
OUR FACILITY IS NOT LAID OUT TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF OVERSIGHT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T.
>> OBVIOUSLY, THE LARGER THE FACILITY, THE RATIO GETS BIGGER.
>> WELL, IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY, IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR HOUSING UNITS, IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN SEE BECAUSE OF THE SETUP.
[01:35:02]
BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OLDER FACILITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF BLIND SPOTS.WE STILL HAVE BARS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF, WELL, YOU'VE WALKED THROUGH IT.
>> WE HAVE CORNERS, THE LOCATION OF THE ISOLATION UNITS, THE LOCATION OF MEDICAL, THE LOCATION OF MALE WORK, FEMALE WORK.
YOU CAN HAVE A FACILITY THAT'S SET UP WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE A CENTRAL AREA THAT'S ALMOST LIKE A OFFICER STATION, WITH GLASS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THREE OR FOUR UNITS, OR YOU CAN HAVE A SETUP WHERE THE OFFICER WAS SET ON THE UNIT HE'S ASSIGNED TO THE UNIT, OR TWO OFFICERS ARE ASSIGNED TO THE UNIT.
BUT TWO OR THREE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE UNIT, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY. THEREFORE.
>> YOU WANT TO CARRY THE STINK BUG OUTSIDE? [LAUGHTER]
>> [LAUGHTER] THAT WOULD DETERMINE ON HOW MANY STAFF IT WOULD REQUIRE TO RUN THE FACILITY.
BUT FOR US, TO RUN IT SAFELY AND TO HAVE EYES ON DIFFERENT AREAS, DEFINITELY WE NEED WHAT WE HAVE.
THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE A PERSON THAT MAY HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE, MENTAL ILLNESS, OR SERIOUS DETERMINATION TO END THEIR OWN LIFE WHERE IT MIGHT HAVE TO BE ONE ON ONE.
I WOULD ASSIGN ONE OFFICER TO THAT INDIVIDUAL TWO SHIFTS A DAY, AND THAT OFFICER WOULD SIT IN FRONT OF THAT DOOR AND KEEP CONSTANT VISUAL CONTACT.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN KEEP THEM FROM HARMING THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACILITY THAT'S SET UP THE WAY OURS IS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PADDED CELLS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY REAL SUICIDE CELLS, THE WAY A CELL SHOULD BE SET UP, OR A MENTAL HEALTH CELL, AND FOR THE LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, WE END UP HOUSING INDIVIDUALS THAT SHOULD BE WITH MDH.
WE MAY HOUSE THEM FOR SIX MONTHS, DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.
>> THE BUDGET IS ABOUT SIX MILLION CORRECTIONS? I CAN'T SEE A SITUATION WHERE OUR CONTRIBUTION WOULDN'T BE LESS THAN FOUR MILLION, MAYBE OPERATING.
IN 7-8 YEARS, WE WOULD HAVE RECOUPED A $15 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT, AND THEN THE REST OF IT WOULD JUST BE MONEY IN THE BANK.
>> I THINK THE FEAR THAT I HAVE IS THE UNKNOWN OF OUR EMPLOYEES GOING OVER AND TRYING TO MEET QUEEN ANNE'S PAY.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT TO THE LEVEL THEY'RE AT, SO THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME CATCH-UP THERE, BUT PROBABLY THE BIGGEST UPFRONT COST THAT WE'LL HAVE AT THE TIME IS PROBABLY BIND INTO THE CORS PENSION SYSTEM, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST UNKNOWN.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE ON OUR PENSION, THEY WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE, HAVE SOME TYPE OF PULL-OUT, AND THEN PAY IN THE CORS WHICH TYPICALLY IS AT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE.
WE COULD LOOK ANYWHERE TO POSSIBLY A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO PUT INTO THE PENSION SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES KEEP THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE.
THAT'S A REALLY BIG UNKNOWN THAT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE REALLY DIVE INTO IT.
THAT WOULD BE ON TOP OF THE 15 OR $20 MILLION.
IT IS VERY PRACTICAL TO THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE COST SAVINGS THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY OUTWEIGH THE INITIAL UPFRONT, BUT THROUGH THIS WHOLE EXERCISE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS REALLY TRIED TO NARROW THAT DOWN TO KNOW EXACTLY, AND IT'S HARD TO AT THIS POINT.
>> WARDEN, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, OVER THE YEARS, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE AT LESS THAN 50% OF OUR HIGHEST.
GOING BACK THROUGH THE YEARS FOR THE INCARCERATED [OVERLAPPING], SO WE'RE LESS THAN 50% AT THIS POINT.
I THINK, THAT'S DUE TO SENTENCING GUIDELINES CHANGING?
>> THAT'S DUE TO JUSTICE REINVESTMENT ACT, IS DUE TO THE AFFORDABLE BOND INITIATIVE.
[01:40:02]
MORE PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED OUT.BUT IN A COUNTY LIKE THIS, ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE OUT, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS RAISING YOUR CRIME RATE, HONESTLY, BECAUSE I HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO YOU KNOW TO BE A FREQUENT FLYER.
HE HAS AN ISSUE, WHETHER IT BE ADDICTION OR JUST ADDICTION TO COMMIT CRIME.
FIVE YEARS AGO, THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL BE LOCKED UP.
HE WOULD BE IN THE FACILITY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL HE GOES TO TRIAL, WHICH WOULD BE, SAY THREE MONTHS.
SINCE COVID, THREE MONTHS HAS TURNED TO SIX MONTHS GETTING THE PERSON TO TRIAL.
IN ADDITION, WHEN I LET THIS INDIVIDUAL OUT, YOU KNOW THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO STOP DOING WHAT HE DOES.
FOR THAT 3-6 MONTHS THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED, HE'S GOING TO COMMIT 10 CRIMES.
WE'RE ONLY GOING TO CATCH HIM FOR TWO OR THREE.
BUT WHEN WE CATCH HIM, YOU'RE GOING TO LET HIM OUT AGAIN BECAUSE OF JRA AND AFFORDABLE BOND INITIATIVE, AND THE PROGRAM YOU TRY TO GET HIM IN AS FAR AS KNOWING THAT HE HAS SOME EITHER MENTAL OR DRUG-TYPE ISSUES.
TO ME, YOU HAVE TO WEIGH ALL THAT, AND FAR AS THE AGREEMENT THING, I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH COMMISSIONER BREEDING, PROBABLY A YEAR AGO, AND I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN, IT'S NO WAY I WOULD GO WITH AN AGREEMENT WHERE YOU COULD LOSE YOUR ABILITY TO HOUSE IN QUEEN ANNE'S OVER WITH TWO-YEAR'S NOTICE.
IF YOU GIVE UP YOUR AUTHORITY TO HAVE A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN CAROLINE COUNTY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU FIVE YEARS TO GET IT BACK.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU FOUR, FIVE YEARS TO PLAN AND BUILD A FACILITY.
THEN YOU HAVE TO STRUCTURE FROM THE TOP PERSON DOWN TO RUN THE FACILITY, AND YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME TENURED PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW YOUR FACILITY IS SET UP AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
IT'S A LOT THAT GOES ON IN CORRECTIONS THAT PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE DON'T SEE.
IF YOU GIVE THAT UP WITHOUT SOME TYPE OF SECURITY BLANKET, IT COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT YOUR OPERATION BACK IN PLACE AND GET IT ON TRACK TO WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.
I'M IN CHARGE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT FACILITY, WE HAVE GREAT STAFF, AND I THINK WE DO PRETTY WELL WHEN IT COMES TO DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, DEALING WITH THE COMMUNITY, DEALING WITH THE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE DROPPED IN OUR LAPSE FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH TO THE ADDICTION, TO THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
FOR WHAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB WORKING WITH VERY LITTLE AND GETTING A LOT OUT OF IT.
>> I GUESS FROM THAT, I AM SURMISING FROM YOUR COMMENTS TODAY, YOU FEEL THAT, AND DON'T LET ME-
>> I'M IN 100% AGREEMENT WITH WHAT YOU SAID, AS FAR AS THE AUTHORITY VERSUS THE AGREEMENT.
I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO COMMISSIONER BREEDING A YEAR AGO THAT THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD GO WITH THAT AGREEMENT.
>> IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES ON AN AUTHORITY, OUR ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO SPEND THE MONEY TO RENOVATE THIS FACILITY AND KEEP IT HERE, OR FIND ANOTHER-
>> OR SOMETHING. NO MATTER WHAT, IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR YEARS THE WAY I SEE IT BEFORE WE WOULD STEP OUT INTO SOMETHING ELSE.
NOW, WARDEN, I'M JUST CURIOUS FOR MY OWN INFORMATION.
WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS ASSIGNED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HOME DETENTION, WHERE DOES YOUR STAFF FIT INTO THAT?
>> WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO RUNS HOME DETENTION.
WE MONITOR SOMEWHAT THE SAME WAY WE DO WITH PRETRIAL THROUGH WHAT WE CALL ELECTRONIC MONITORING.
THEY HAVE STIPULATIONS WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO.
[01:45:01]
BUT WE CAN SET UP CONTAINMENT OR ZONES WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL CAN GO AND CAN'T GO.SAY AN INDIVIDUAL IS LOCKED UP FOR ASSAULTING ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, AND I HAVE A ZONE WHERE THIS INDIVIDUAL LIVES, THIS INDIVIDUAL WORKS, THIS INDIVIDUAL FREQUENTS ON A REGULAR, AND THOSE WOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED-
>> AS AREAS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL ON HOME DETENTION SHOULD NOT ENTER.
NOW THERE WILL BE REGULAR PLACES LIKE WALMART, MAYBE RELIGIOUS FACILITIES, OR ANY REGULAR STORE WHERE EVERYBODY GOES WHERE THEY MAY POSSIBLY CROSS PATHS, BUT THAT PERSON IS ADVISED, THEN AT THAT POINT YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE AREA.
ONCE YOU KNOW THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL IS THERE, YOU NEED TO LEAVE.
>> LET ME ASK ONE MORE QUESTION HERE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY TRICKY QUESTION, BUT THE CURRENT FACILITY IS DESIGNED FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY INCARCERATED PEOPLE.
IS THERE A WAY, IF WE HAVE HISTORICAL TRENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INCARCERATED, AND THAT IS 50% OF WHAT IT HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY, AND WE FEEL THAT WITH THE SENTENCING LAWS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR NEW NORMAL.
I GUESS WE HAVE TO BE CONFIDENT THAT THESE ARE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INCARCERATED.
IS THERE A WAY TO SCALE DOWN THE RENOVATION OF THAT FACILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND NOT SPEND THE MONEY TO COMPLETELY RENOVATE THE ENTIRE THING, BUT TO DO THE RENOVATIONS THAT WOULD BE TARGETED TO OUR CURRENT AND PROJECTED NUMBER OF PEOPLE?
>> WITH A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR TOP NUMBERS.
IT'S ABOUT THE ABILITY TO SEPARATE AND FOLLOW LEGISLATION.
JUVENILES CAN'T BE WITHIN SIGHT OR SOUND OF ADULTS.
WE HAVE HUGE ISSUES IN THIS STATE WITH ADDRESSING DISCIPLINE OR INCARCERATION, OR TREATMENT FOR JUVENILES.
THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO CHANGE, BECAUSE EVEN NOT IN THIS COUNTY, WE HAVE AN ISSUE HERE AND THERE.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LARGER COUNTIES, THE JUVENILES SEE THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH A LOT, AND THEY'RE DOING IT, LIKE CAR AUTO THEFTS.
IT'S LIKE A GAME TO THEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCE FOR THE ACTIONS.
ONCE THEY MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH DJS AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH DJS, IT'S MY OPINION THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES.
JUST LIKE IN MARYLAND, THEY SHUT DOWN A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE JUVENILE FACILITIES. WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO END UP? IN THE LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
YOU NEED AREAS THAT CAN MEET THE GUIDELINES FOR JUVENILES FAR AS EDUCATION, FAR AS SIGHT AND SOUND, SEPARATION.
YOU BRING IN JUVENILES, YOU HAVE A LOT OF INCIDENTS BETWEEN JUVENILES.
YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE UNIT FOR MALE JUVENILES, BECAUSE THE UNIT YOU HAVE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ALTERCATIONS, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEPARATE THEM.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
YOU HAVE MINIMUM, MAXIMUM, AND MEDIUM-SECURITY INMATES.
A MAXIMUM-SECURITY INMATE CANNOT BE HOUSED WITH A MINIMUM-SECURITY INMATE.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEPARATE THEM.
YOU MAY HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE MAXIMUM-SECURITY INMATES, BUT ON THE SAME TYPE OF CASE.
THEY CAN'T BE IN THE SAME HOUSING UNIT.
IT REQUIRES YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOUSING UNIT SPACE, SEPARATE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MAXIMUM, A MINIMUM, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE INTAKE FOR THE FEMALES.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE MAXIMUM, MEDIUM, MINIMUM, AND INTAKE FOR MALES.
THAT'S WHERE YOU END UP HAVING X AMOUNT OF BIDS VERSUS YOUR COUNTY.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOW MANY WE CAN HOLD.
[01:50:03]
IT'S HOW MANY WE CAN HOLD, SEPARATE, AND FOLLOW ALL OF THIS LEGISLATION THAT HAS CAME OUT IN THE LAST [OVERLAPPING]>> IT'S MORE OF A DESIGN LAYOUT SITUATION THAN CAPACITY.
>> WHEN THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT, NONE OF THAT EXISTED.
>> MY QUESTION, BASICALLY, WOULD BE FROM A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS FROM OUR STANDPOINT.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO RENOVATE THIS FACILITY, OR IF LET'S SAY WE BUILT A NEW FACILITY.
WE WOULD SIZE THAT FOR LESS INCARCERATED PEOPLE, BUT IT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE LAID OUT TO MEET THESE GUIDELINES.
>> BUT I DON'T THINK YOU COULD SIZE A FACILITY FOR LESS.
ANY FACILITY IN ANY COUNTY IN THIS STATE WOULD AT LEAST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF INMATES OR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU INTEND TO HAVE.
IT'S NO WAY. IF YOU SAY, MY DAILY HIGH FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS WAS 60, OR I HAVEN'T HAD OVER 65 INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS FOR THE LAST YEAR, SO I WANT TO BUILD A FACILITY THAT CAN HOLD 75 INDIVIDUALS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOTAL BEDS.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TOTAL BEDS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDICAL.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ISOLATION.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WORKERS.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WEEKENDS.
WHEN YOU COUNT YOUR BEDS, YOU COUNT YOUR BEDS IN GENERAL POPULATION HOUSING UNITS.
MAXIMUM SECURITY LOCK DOWN, MEDICAL, ISOLATION, AND YOUR HOLDING CELLS, INTAKE AS FAR AS NEW INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO JAIL AND YOUR HOLDING CELLS IN YOUR PROCESSING INTAKE AREA ARE NOT NECESSARILY COUNTING IN THOSE NUMBERS.
WE'RE COUNTING EVERY BED WE HAVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
WE'VE BEEN TO THE POINT PRIOR TO ME COMING WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE IN A MULTIPURPOSE ROOM OR WHAT WE CALL BOATS, WHICH LOOK LIKE LITTLE LIFE RAFTS OR SOMETHING, AND THE PEOPLE SLEEP IN THEM.
>> THE BOTTOM LINE ANSWER IS, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE SCOPE OF RENOVATIONS ON THIS FACILITY OR REDUCE THE SCOPE OF ONE THAT WE BUILT.
>> IF YOU DID, THEN YOU'RE TAKING A CHANCE.
>> WELL, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT FROM A REGULATION STANDPOINT ANYWAY.
>> WELL, IF YOU CAN'T DO IT FROM THE REGULATION STANDPOINT, YOU CAN'T DO IT, PERIOD.
>> MY IDEA OF SCALING DOWN THINGS TO BE.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. THE ONLY REASON THAT OUR FACILITY IS RUNNING AND IT'S NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE YOU GET GRANDFATHERED IN, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE FACILITY.
WHEN YOU GO TO A NEW FACILITY, THEN YOU HAVE TO MEET-
>> ALL THAT FOR A NEW FACILITY.
>> SO I GUESS TO SUM UP I GUESS TO ELABORATE ON C MR. PORTER'S.
SO CAN YOU MAKE WHAT YOU NEED IN THAT BOX? [NOISE]
>> NO. [OVERLAPPING] WE'VE HORSE THAT HORSE AS FAR AS WE CAN.[LAUGHTER].
>> WE DO WANT A NEW ONE SOMEWHERE.
>> THE THING ABOUT THE BOX IS WE NEED NEW WINDOWS, WE NEED NEW ROOF, WE NEED NEW.
>> SOFAS. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S NOT EVEN ADDRESS OVERLAPPING WATCH THE INSIDE.
I WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION I JUST ASKED.
>> I'VE BEEN IN THERE [LAUGHTER]
>> YES. THAT'S HOW WE STARTED WITH A WALK THROUGH LOOKING AT.
>> YES, I KNOW. I GET IT. I JUST WANT TO SUM UP TO MR. PORTERS.
>> THE DECISION IS GOING TO HAVE TO AS IT ALWAYS DOES, COME DOWN TO MONEY.
[NOISE] ALL I WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW IS I AGREE WITH THE AUTHORITY THING.
I STILL AM NOT TOTALLY HUNG UP ON HAVING TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STRUCTURE AN AGREEMENT THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH INFLUENCE OVER THE OPERATION OF THE FACILITY.
BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU GUYS IS, IS IT AUTHORITY OR NOTHING?
>> I'M LOOKING AT IT LIKE THIS.
[OVERLAPPING] SEVERAL PAPERS COME THROUGH HERE THAT SOMETHING AND WE TALKED ABOUT UPON TIME,
[01:55:04]
SAYS, 30 YEARS AGO, SO AND SO SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT.SO 30 YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN THIS WHOLE THING POPS UP AGAIN, I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE? I THINK THE AUTHORITY PROTECTS YOU FROM ALL THAT.
>> THE AUTHORITY VERSUS AGREEMENT IS A SEMANTICS THING, IF YOU COULD SHOW ME AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD HAVE THE SAME DETAILS AND THE SAME CONTROL AND REGULATORY CONTROL AS AN AUTHORITY, I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE ABOUT THE WORD, BUT IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT GIVES US SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY AND SAY, WE DID SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN SIGNING OVER AUTHORITY TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
IF IF THIS WAS COMING TO CAROLINE COUNTY AND WE PASSED THIS SAME AGREEMENT ON, DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WOULD GO FOR THAT? I WOULD SAY NO.
>> QUEEN ANNE WOULD NOT OR KENT WOULD NOT SIGN ON ON THIS AGREEMENT IF IT WAS HANDED OUT.
>> I THINK KENT'S READY TO SIGN ON.
>> WHAT? BUT I DON'T THINK QUEEN ANNE WOULD.
>> WE COULD BUILD A FACILITY HERE AND SHARE IT WITH QUEEN ANNE AND KENT, AND THEY COULD PAY US.
>> THEY ALREADY HAVE THE PROPERTY.
>> WELL, I KNOW. BUT I MEAN, LET'S SAY ALL THINGS EQUAL WHEN THAT THAT FACILITY WAS NOT THERE.
>> THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE WITH THAT AGREEMENT WHILE I'M THINKING OF IT, I KNEW ANOTHER ONE WAS THE INITIAL TRANSPORTATION TO THE DETENTION CENTERS BY LOCAL JURISDICTION.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DOES THAT MEAN CAROLINE COUNTY'S GOT TO RUN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? IS GOING TO HAVE TO RUN SOMEONE FOR THE TOWN OF DENTON OR THE TOWN OF FLESBURG, OVER TO CHURCHILL, OR IS THE TOWN OF FLESBURG, OR THE TOWN OF DENTON GOING TO HAVE TO RUN SOMEONE WHO THEY WANT TO DELIVER TO THE DETENTION CENTER ALL THE WAY TO CHURCHILL?
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST WHEN THE FACILITY OPENS, IS THAT?
>> I TOOK IT OUT. YES. IT'S FOREVER. THERE'S NO PLAN.
NOW ONCE THE PERSON IS ADMITTED INTO THE DETENTION CENTER, THEN IT BECOMES A DETENTIVE CENTER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TRANSPORT FOR MEDICAL OR COURT DATES OR ANY OTHER.
BUT THAT INITIAL TRANSPORT, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, EITHER.
>> NO. DANNY, WHAT DO WE NEED AND HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO GET A FISCAL NOTE ON THIS PLAN.
IS THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT?
>> I THINK CURRENTLY, TO ME, NO, BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO OTHER COUNTIES AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WORKFORCE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK LIKE FOR A FACILITY LIKE THAT.
ALSO, THEIR ACCOUNT UNDERSTANDING, HOW MANY MEALS ARE WE HAVE PROVIDE MEDICAL IS A BIG COST.
WE STARTED TO GO THROUGH THIS AT ONE POINT WHEN THIS CONVERSATION STARTED.
I THINK IT GOT A LITTLE CONTRACTS WITH OUR VENDORS.
>> A LITTLE CONTRACT, OUR CONTRACTS WITH OUR VENDORS ARE NOT THEIR LUMP SUM CONTRACTS ARE NOT BROKEN DOWN TO HAVE LIKE AN OVERHEAD MANAGEMENT COST AND THEN A PER MEAL.
>> FOR DIETARY. THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE COST YEARLY, AND THEN THERE'S A COST PER MEAL SERVED?
>> YES. THAT FLUCTUATES DEPENDING ON THE POPULATION.
WHEN MEDICAL IS BROKEN DOWN SOMEWHAT, BUT BY SALARIES WITH AN ESCALATOR, A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THEY PROJECT, THE RAISES WILL BE OVER THE UPCOMING YEAR.
YOU LOOK AT IT EVERY YEAR AND YOU HAVE THAT BUILT IN PERCENTAGE.
BUT OF COURSE, WHEN COVID CAME, IT HIT EVERYBODY, BLIND SIGHTED EVERYBODY.
THINGS CHANGED BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD MAKE SO MUCH MORE MONEY BY GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING FOR MEDICAL PERSONNEL.
EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR RIGHT DEALS WITH YOU DIETARY.
>> WE STARTED SEEING SOME REALLY BIG NUMBERS AS FAR AS THEIR CONTRACTED INCREASES, AND I KNOW MY EXPERIENCE IN CHARLES HAS BEEN A LONGER THAN I HAVE.
ANYTIME WE HAVE LOOK TO PUT THESE TYPES OF CONTRACTS OUT TO VID, THERE'S NORMALLY ONE PLAYER IN TOWN AND NOT TWO.
>> CORRECT. WE DON'T HAVE A LINE OF VENDORS COMING IN GOING AND WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE YOUR MEDICAL SERVICE FOR THE YEAR.
[02:00:04]
WE'RE REALLY UNFORTUNATELY AT THE MERCY TO WHAT THEY'RE STATING MONTH.THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY THOUGHT THE ECONOMY OF SCALE WOULD COME IN WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MEALS AND THE MEDICAL AND NOT HAVING TO SERVICE THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, ONE SPOT.
THAT REALLY GOT INTO THE CONFUSING PART OF HOW DO YOU ESTIMATE WHAT THAT WOULD BE IN A CONTRACT FOR SOME OF YOUR BIGGER COSTS LIKE MEDICAL MEALS.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE CORRECT.
THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE AN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SERVING THE NUMBER OF INCARCERATED.
>> INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'RE ON ONE PLACE OR THREE DIFFERENT PLACES?
NUMBER 1, DOES THE COUNTY GET REIMBURSED FOR HAVING INMATES FOR INDIVIDUALS.
I KNOW THERE'S A SETUP COST TO HOUSE PER DAY.
DOES THE COUNTY GET MONEY FROM THE STATE FOR HOUSING.
IF THEY DO, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ONCE YOU GIVE UP? YOU WOULD NO LONGER GET THOSE FUNDS, ONCE YOU GIVE UP YOUR FACILITY, CORRECT?
>> WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY LARGE STATEMENT FROM THE STATE.
ONCE A YEAR,[NOISE] I THINK WE JUST GOT THE PAYMENT.
>> YES. IT'S ALL COUNTY FUNDS.
>> MY OTHER QUESTION IS, I'VE NEVER SEEN AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS PERMANENT.
>> BY DOING AN AGREEMENT, YOU HAD THE MERCY OF -.
>> THE CONTROLLING PERSON, THE CONTROLLING ENTITY IN THE AGREEMENT.
SOMEBODY HELPED ME OUT HERE WITH TIME FRAMES HERE.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO FISCAL.
WHAT DEADLINE ARE WE UNDER HERE FOR COMING UP WITH ANSWERS?
>> IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE IS THE PART 2 PROCESS OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE STATE FOR THE 50/50 FUNDING.
WITH THAT COMES, I BELIEVE, JUST OVER $300,000 BILL TO THE CONSULTANT THAT'S WORKING THROUGH THIS.
QUEEN ANNE'S POINT IS REALLY, IF WE'RE ALL GOING THROUGH WITH THIS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A THIRD OR WHATEVER OUR COST SHARE WOULD BE, MIGHT AS WELL SAY $100,000 THAT I THINK THEY WOULD WANT ANY DAY NOW FOR US TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
>> THAT NUMBER IS A LOT LARGER THAN THE FIRST PART THAT WE PUT UP AND IS REALLY WHAT'S DRIVING THE CONVERSATION FOR US TO DECIDE BEFORE WE KICK IN ANOTHER 100K INTO SOMETHING THAT WE MAY NOT OR MAY GO WITH.
>> [NOISE] THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT THE PART 1 SUBMISSION BECAUSE IT CLOSED. WE DIDN'T MEET THE DEADLINE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT JUICE THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET IT IN, BUT IT IT DID CLOSE.
>> CAN YOU SUBMIT PART 1 AND PART 2 AT THE SAME TIME?
>> YOU CAN SUBMIT AGAIN. THE WINDOW IS MARCH 1ST FOR THE PART 1.
I WOULD THINK THAT THE PART 1 ACTUALLY OR PART 1 AND PART 2, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE BY MARCH 1ST BECAUSE EVERY OTHER THURSDAY, PRETTY MUCH EXCEPT DURING A HOLIDAY AND WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT THROWS IT OFF.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE PROGRAM, WHAT THE FACILITY LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THE SITE LOOK LIKE, THE SITE SET UP.
ALL OF THAT MYSELF AND MY DEPUTY, WE'VE BEEN VERY, INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT SET UP DONE.
THEY'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO WRAPPING UP.
POSITIONING THE LAYOUT OF THE FACILITY, THE SITE PLAN, THEY'RE GOING TO DO A 3D AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO SEND IT OUT TO US VERY SOON.
[02:05:05]
>> WHAT DO WE NEED? DIRECTIONS ONCE HERE.
>> I DEFINITELY THINK BEFORE WE SPEND $100,000, WE TO MAKE A DECISION HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ALL OF THE COSTS INVOLVED, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND EITHER WAY, EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSITION OF EMPLOYEES TO A NEW PENSION SYSTEM.
FOR ME, IF THE AGREEMENT WAS CHANGED AND THEY WERE REQUIRED TO GIVE FIVE YEARS NOTICE AND THEY WERE REQUIRED TO PAY US BACK OUR SHARE OF [NOISE] BUILDING, IN ADDITION TO THE EDITS THAT THEY'VE MADE, WOULD THAT BE ENOUGH FOR US TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT?
>> WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION? WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.
WE HUNG UP STILL EVEN IF WE GET TO THAT POINT. THAT'S RIGHT.
>> YEAH. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A COST SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY DOWN THE ROAD.
YES, THESE EMPLOYEES WILL BECOME, IN THIS CASE, QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY EMPLOYEES, BUT THAT IS A LESS BURDEN ON OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
WE WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ANYMORE, SO I MEAN, THERE'S A BENEFIT TO US FOR THAT ALSO.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WITH ALL THE CONS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF PROS TO MOVING FORWARD.
>> I THINK COMMISSIONER REPORTER SAID IT WELL, IF THERE WAS A PERFECT AGREEMENT REGARDLESS OF AUTHORITY VERSE AGREEMENT, IS THAT STILL SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE THE APPETITE FOR MAKING SURE ALL THOSE THINGS WERE SOLVED?
>> IF THOSE THREE THINGS COULD BE ADDRESSED, AND I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT DANNY AND I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH IS THE FISCAL THING.
WE DON'T HAVE A HANDLE ON THE COSTS.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A TIME CRUNCH TO TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION BUT WE DON'T.
>> AGAIN, QUEEN ANNE'S BEING THE LARGER COUNTY IN THIS AND HAVING PROBABLY THE BULK OF THE EXPENSES, KNOWING THE COUNT.
I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE MORE OF AN INSIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY, I CAN SPEAK FOR OUR THIRD OF THE PROJECT.
>> IF THERE'S NOT AN APPETITE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT LACK OF INFORMATION, WE COULD POSTPONE THIS MEETING AND MAYBE TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, BUT FOCUS TIME ON AT LEAST GET SOME DRAFT FINANCIAL PIECE TO THIS.
>> IN MY MIND, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A DRAFT BUDGET FOR THE FACILITY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO COST TO OPERATE AND RUN A FACILITY OF THIS SIZE WITH THIS MANY EMPLOYEES AND THIS NUMBER OF INMATES? THEN ONCE YOU HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT, YOU WOULD TAKE THE COSTS FIVE PERCENTAGE, AND YOU GO, WELL, IF IT'S $15 MILLION.
[NOISE] AGAIN, JUST THROWING ROUGH NUMBERS OUT HERE.
IN CAROLINE, YOU'RE A THIRD OR 25% WHATEVER OUR NUMBER WOULD BE, YOUR COSTS WOULD BE 5 MILLION.
WE'RE SAVING 1.5 MILLION THE FIRST YEAR IN OUR OPERATION.
THAT'S A VERY LOOSE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIGGEST NUMBER THAT WE WOULD HAVE [OVERLAPPING].
>> AGAIN, HOW LONG IS 1.5 GOING TO TAKE TO GET YOU TO THAT 20 UP FRONT? DOES IT TAKE 15 YEARS BEFORE THIS FLIPS AND YOU'RE IN THE GOOD? I THINK THOSE ARE ALL QUESTIONS.
>> THERE MIGHT BE A HYBRID BETWEEN THE PURE AUTHORITY AND THE AGREEMENT THAT QUEEN ANNE'S HAS PRODUCED.
THAT IS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF AN OLD FASHIONED GENERAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WHERE QUEEN ANNE'S IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AGREES TO CONVEY A PERCENTAGE, 30% INTEREST IN THE LAND TO CAROLINE COUNTY, SO MUCH TO KENT COUNTY.
THE COUNTIES ACTUALLY ARE OWNING THEIR PERCENTAGES OF THE FACILITY SO THAT YOU CANNOT BE TREATED AS A PURE TENANT AT WILL AND WHATEVER THE YEARS ARE TO THROW YOU OUT.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT THINGS, COMMISSIONER PORTER IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH, IF YOU WERE GETTING A GROUP OF INVESTORS TOGETHER TO CREATE A FACILITY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO UTILIZE, WHETHER IT'S RENTING IT OUT TO TENANTS OR IN THIS CASE, RUNNING A CORRECTIONAL CENTER [NOISE],
[02:10:04]
YOU CAN DO IT AS A GENERAL PARTNERSHIP WHERE ALL THREE PARTNERS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE RUNNING OF THE FACILITY, OR YOU DO IT AS A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, WHERE YOU'VE GOT SILENT PARTNERS IN EFFECT.BUT THE DAY TO DAY MANAGEMENT IS IN THE ONE GENERAL PARTNER, LIKE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT I LIKE THE GENERAL PARTNERSHIP IDEA.
RIGHT NOW, THE OTHER TWO COUNTIES ARE NOT PARTNERS.
THEY ARE SIMPLY TENANTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE TOLD HOW MUCH TO PAY.
THE DIRT, THE BUILDING, EMPLOYEES, ALL BELONG TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
THERE MIGHT BE A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE TWO MODELS OF THE PURE AUTHORITY, AND WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
>> OTHER WORDS JUST LIKE, I MEAN, THERE ARE LANDLORDS SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO RAISE YOUR RENT NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO RAISE YOUR RENT THE YEAR AFTER THAT, RAISE YOUR RENT AND YOU HAVE YOU HAVE NO SAY.
>> I WOULD BE PERSONALLY PROBABLY MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TO INVEST $20 MILLION IN A BUILDING.
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE RUN WITH WHAT WE TELL THEM IS THERE HAS TO BE SUBSTANTIAL EDITS TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ORDER FOR US TO FEEL COMFORTABLE OR WE WOULD PREFER THE AUTHORITY STILL.
WE THINK THE AUTHORITY, I MEAN, I GUESS WE COULD INVESTIGATE THE PARTNERSHIP IDEA.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE INTERESTED.
I MEAN, THE QUESTION IS TO QUEENS, HOW MUCH ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GIVING UP? LET'S STOP DING DING BACK AND FORTH WITH LITTLE EDITS TO THIS AGREEMENT AND JUST TELL US WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP? WE JUST WALK TO WHAT? I I MEAN, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
>> I THINK IF WE RESPOND TO THIS, WE'LL FIND OUT WHETHER THEY REALLY WANT TO BE A PARTNER OR IF THEY BE IN CONTROL OF THAT WE GET TOLD WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
>> IT'S NO HARM NO FOUL. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NEGOTIATING FROM A POINT OF STRENGTH.
>> WE DON'T WANT CONTROL. WE JUST WANT A LEVEL OF SECURITY.
LIKE LARRY SAID, YOUR TAXPAYERS, INVESTMENT.
>> I THINK THAT'S MY BIGGEST HANG UP IS INVESTING THE DOLLARS.
>> I'M STILL CONCERNED WITH HAVING TO STAND UP EARNING FACILITY, TOO.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU HAD 20 YEARS TO DO IT.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY.
YOU JUST DON'T YOU DON'T OPEN A POSITION AND HAVE 30 APPLICANTS AND CORRECTIONS OVERNIGHT, IMAGINE HAVING IMAGINE HAVING 40 POSITIONS TO FILL.
>> HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU TO FILL THIS POSITION?
>> THEY SAY YOU JUST YOU JUST INVESTED YOU JUST INVESTED ALL THAT MONEY INTO ONE DOWN HERE AND NOW YOU WANT TO BUILD ANOTHER ONE?
>> THE STATES, AND I'M NOT GOING TO COME BACK.
WE JUST GAVE YOU WE JUST FOR HALF OF THIS ONE, YOU'RE STAYING.
>> WELL, THIS THING ABOUT STARTING A NEW FACILITY.
YOU CAN'T START A NEW FACILITY.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO STEAL ALL YOUR STAFF.
ALL YOUR SUPERVISORY STAFF WOULD HAVE TO BE STOLEN FROM ANOTHER AGENCY.
YOU CAN'T BRING A PERSON IN OFF THE STREET AND MAKE THEM A SUPERVISOR IN CORRECTIONS.
YOU NEED EXPERIENCE, SO YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE UP ALL THESE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE AT THE FACILITY, AND LET IT GO, GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
BY THE TIME YOU WOULD NEED TO START OVER, STARTING FROM SCRATCH, I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD TAKE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR STAFF FROM? IT'S HARD TO GET ENTRY LEVEL PEOPLE.
NOW YOU GOT TO PAY MORE THAN QUEEN ANNE'S.
>> HOWEVER OR WHEREVER BRING THEIR STAFF OVER, THEIR SENIOR STAFF OR PEOPLE WITH 10 PLUS YEARS. THAT'S GOING TO BE.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHEN WE GET BACK.
[02:22:30]
GO AHEAD AND CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER[02:22:33]
AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION.[Legislative Session: Third Reading and Potential Enactment]
[• Legislative Bill #2024-008 An Emergency Bill Entitled Amendment to Chapter 62 - New Section 62-10 – Caroline County Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund]
>> MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
>> AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNTY ATTORNEY [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE'RE HERE FOR THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL FOR AMENDMENT OR ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-008, WHICH IS AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 62 OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY CODE, CREATING A NEW SECTION 62-10 ENTITLED THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED.
THIS WAS INTRODUCED BACK ON DECEMBER 10, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING ON 17 DECEMBER.
BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 22, MARYLAND VOTERS APPROVED A REFERENDUM TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR ADULT USE.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED THE CANNABIS REFORM ACT OF 2023.
GOVERNOR MOORE SIGNED IT INTO LAW LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL CANNABIS USE.
MARYLAND IMPOSES A 9% STATE SALES TAX ON CANNABIS SALES.
INSIDE OF THAT TAX COLLECTION, 35% OF THE PROCEEDS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE STATE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND.
CAROLINE COUNTY'S PORTION OF THE STATE FUND IS 0.838%.
OUR COLLECTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 WAS $367,496.78.
THE STATE STATUTE REQUIRES EACH COUNTY TO ADOPT A LAW ESTABLISHING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH MONEY RECEIVED THROUGH THE ABOVE COLLECTION MAY BE USED.
FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED PER STATE LAW FOR FUNDING COMMUNITY BASED INITIATIVES INTENDED TO BENEFIT LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.
FUNDING COMMUNITY BASED INITIATIVES THAT SERVE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS AS DEFINED BY THE STATUTE, AND ANY RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OR ACTIVITIES AND CANNOT SUPPLANT, REPLACE FUNDING THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE APPROPRIATED FOR PRE-EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL IS CAROLINE COUNTY COMPLYING WITH THE STATE DIRECTIVE.
[02:25:04]
A SUMMARY OF THIS BILL IS THAT IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPLYING WITH SECTION 1-322 OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS ARTICLE BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 62-10 OF CHAPTER 62, WHICH IS ENTITLED COMPTROLLER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES, OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.ESTABLISHING THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND AS A NON LAPSING SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THE STATE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND, ESTABLISHING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH MONEY DEPOSITED INTO THE CAROLINE COUNTY FUND MAY BE USED AND MAKING THIS ACT AN EMERGENCY BILL.
WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH I BELIEVE THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY SEEN FROM MS. PIERCE, IF I'M CORRECT.
>> WAS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT THAT CAME IN?
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED BILL?
>> I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
DANNY, THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED TO DATE, IS THE NUMBER THAT MR. BARREL JUST MENTIONED, IS THAT COINCIDE WITH WHAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED?
>> YES. FOR THAT FIRST FISCAL YEAR OF FY 24, WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING SOME OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS AS WE GO THROUGH FY 25.
I APOLOGIZE. I DID NOT PULL THE EXACT NUMBER THAT WE HAD AS OF TODAY, BUT WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL QUARTERS.
I BELIEVE WE'RE SITTING RIGHT AROUND $500,000 AND WHAT'S BEEN RECEIVED TO DATE. BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP.
>> YEAH. WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING QUARTERLY PAYMENTS AS WELL AS ONE OFF APPLICATION.
AS INDIVIDUALS ARE APPLYING TO BE LICENSE SELLER, GROWERS, THEY HAVE TO APPLY AND PAY A FEE FOR THAT, AND WE GET A SMALL PORTION OF THAT.
>> I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME LEGISLATION LAST NIGHT THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED REGARDING THAT PROCESS AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WILL END UP.
WE HAVE REQUESTED SOME CLARIFICATION.
I KNOW I SENT AN EMAIL BACK ON DECEMBER 27TH REQUESTING CLARIFICATION ON WHERE THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT IN THE COUNTY AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL.
IT'S ALL REALLY STARTED WITH A PHONE CALL THAT MYSELF AND ROBIN K HALL, THE HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNTY HAD WITH THE OSC.
QUESTIONING THE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS, AND REALLY CAROLINE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ANY.
WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THAT MONEY SINCE WE'RE NOT IDENTIFIED? WE HAVE REQUESTED FOLLOW UP CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
I'VE PROBABLY SENT FIVE EMAILS NOW SINCE THAT CALL, AND I HAVE HAD ZERO RESPONSE OR CLARIFICATION FROM OSC ON THAT.
>> NOT NOT EVEN A PHONE CALL OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE EMAIL.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED FROM MINE EITHER.
>> I WILL CLARIFY. THEY DID RESPOND TO ONE OF MY EMAILS ABOUT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION HAD THAT WE WERE TO REPORT THIS DECEMBER ON OR PUT IT HOW ALL THE COUNTIES HAD SPENT AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THE FUNDING.
I ASKED WHEN THAT REPORT WOULD COME OUT, WHAT FORMAT, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE STILL WORKING ON IT, AND THEY WOULD FOLLOW UP IN A WEEK.
IT'S PROBABLY BEEN A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, AND I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING, SO THEY DID NOT ADDRESS ANY OF THE OTHER EMAILS, JUST THAT ONE SECTION.
>> OUR QUARTERLY DISBURSEMENT IS ABOUT WHAT 35,000?
>> YEAH. I THINK THE LAST ONE WAS 33 AND CHANGE. THEY SEEM TO BE.
>> BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A RECONCILE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IF WE SHOULD EXPECT 33,000 A QUARTER?
>> CORRECT. THEY COME WITH ZERO CONTEXT OR BACKGROUND.
I BELIEVE THE OSC IS REPORTING OUT A FULL REPORT, BUT WE DON'T GET THAT IMMEDIATELY, SO WAITING ON THOSE.
[02:30:01]
>> IF IT STAYS THE SAME, WE'LL PROBABLY RECEIVE ABOUT 140,000 LESS THAN LAST YEAR?
WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING ABOUT 120,000 A YEAR.
>> THIS BILL IS SIMPLY SETTING FORTH THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAM.
>> ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE STATING THAT WE ARE COMPLYING WITH THE STATE STATUTE TO CREATE A FUND AND THAT WE WILL ABIDE AND SPEND IT IN THE CATEGORY THAT THE STATE HAS PUT OUT THERE.
AGAIN, WE DON'T QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THOSE CATEGORIES, BUT WE ARE ESTABLISHING THE FUND TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE STATUTE.
>> THIS BILL IS PRETTY MUCH CUT AND PASTE FROM THE STATE, RIGHT?
>> EIGHTY PERCENT OF IT IS STATE LANGUAGE.
>> I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ENACT LEGISLATIVE.
LET ME MAKE MY MOTION, PLEASE.
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-008.
>> WE GOT A MOTION AND SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
>> DO YOU GENTLEMEN WANT TO DO ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME OR DO YOU WANT TO KEEP MOVING?
>> IF IT'S A BRIEF COMMENT, SURE.
>> MISS PIERCE, DID YOU WANT TO?
>> WE DO NOT NEED TO BE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO PASS RESOLUTIONS.
[Action Agenda]
THAT'S OUR NEXT ITEM. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION?>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THE AYES HAVE IT.
MOVE ON TO OUR ACTION AGENDA, WHICH WE HAVE THREE PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS.
WE NEED TO DO THESE INDIVIDUALLY? I PROBABLY SO.
>> WELL, I DO THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON THIS SECOND ONE.
>> THE FIRST RESOLUTION WAS A DECLARATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY REGARDING THE RECENT WEATHER EVENT.
I GUESS I'LL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ROBIN EATON, WHO WAS IN THE ROOM AND HIS STAFF, ALONG WITH JAMIE BEACH AND HER STAFF, WHO ASSISTED IN THE SNOW REMOVAL.
ALSO DO NOT HAVE ANY DES REPRESENTATION HERE, BUT WITH THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WE DID SET UP A WHAT WAS IT?
>> DOC, AND IT WAS STAFFED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT.
FORTUNATELY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR EMS DURING THE INITIAL PART OF THE EVENT.
THAT WAS REALLY A MAJOR CONCERN OF ALL OF OURS WAS RESPONSE TIMES.
BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTY, EXTENDED RESPONSE TIMES FOR THE AMBULANCES TO ACTUALLY GET OUT AND RESPOND TO CALLS AND THEN TRANSPORT THOSE DISTRESSED INDIVIDUALS TO A EMERGENCY FACILITY.
WE UP STAFFED, I BELIEVE DES HAD EVERY EMS STATION STAFFED FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT.
LIKE I SAID, FORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY CALLS FOR SERVICE, SO MADE IT THROUGH PRETTY WELL, THANKS TO THE HELP OF PUBLIC WORKS AND RECREATION AND PARKS, DES, ALL THE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.
IT'S NOT EASY TO COME IN AND WORK 12 HOUR, SHIFTS, I'M SURE, ROBIN, WHAT WAS THE LONGEST YOU HAD SOMEONE IN?
>> SIXTEEN. THEN YOU GET 8-10 HOURS OFF AND YOU'RE IN FOR ANOTHER 16.
FOR A WEEK, I WAS DOING 12 AND 12 ROTATING IN A LOADER.
I HAD THE NIGHT SHIFT, SO IT WEARS ON YOU.
PUTTING THOSE HOURS IN FOR A WEEK.
IT WAS A TOUGH STORM, A LOT OF SNOW.
BUT THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT THIS EVENT WAS THE WIND BLEW FOR DAYS AFTER, AND WE HAD MAJOR DRIFTING ISSUES,
[02:35:02]
WHICH TYPICALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN, BUT ANYWAY.DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ON THAT?
I KNOW I DID BE OUT THERE FOR AT ONE TIME, BUT YOU GUYS JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, JAMIE, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I WAS IN CONTACT WITH ROBIN, BUT I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T CALL YOU. I APOLOGIZE.
YOU WERE IN MY THOUGHTS [LAUGHTER] BUT THANK YOU. RESOLUTION 2025-001 WAS THE DECLARATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION?
>> WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 2025-003, WHICH IS AMENDMENT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FEE SCHEDULE.
CRYSTAL DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND CRYSTAL DADS, OUR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING CODES.
>> THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT COUNTY FEE SCHEDULE WOULD INCLUDE NEW FEES CONSISTENT WITH OUR RECENT ADOPTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE BILL FOR FPR STORAGE.
THE FEES THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO ADOPT AT THIS TIME WOULD BE AN PRELIMINARY APPLICATION FEE OF $400, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR MAJOR SITE PLAN FEES FOR OTHER USES IN THE COUNTY.
THE SECOND PART WOULD BE THE DETAILED ENGINEER PLAN REVIEW, AND THAT WOULD BE FOR THE REVIEW OF THE TANK CONSTRUCTION OR STORAGE FACILITY ITSELF, WHICH WE WOULD NEED TO SOURCE THAT OUT TO OUR CONTRACT ENGINEERED AGENCY.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO STRUCTURE THAT FEE THE SAME WAY WE DO FOR DETAILED STORM WATER REVIEW, AND WE HAVE TO OUTSOURCE THAT IN THAT IT'S AN INITIAL DEPOSIT AND REIMBURSABLE TO THE COUNTY FOR THE COST.
LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT COSTS THAT WE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTSOURCING OF THE MINING AND THE SOLAR, WE'D START AT HALF OF THAT SINCE IT'S NOT A FULL BLOWN.
WE WOULD BE DOING PART OF THAT SITE PLAN REVIEW.
THEY WOULD JUST BE DOING THE TANK.
WE WOULD START WITH HALF OF THAT AT $2,500 OR IF IT'S MORE, THEY WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL OF IT.
THEN THE THIRD FEE WOULD BE FOR THE BUILDING PERMIT ITSELF, WHICH ANY FACILITY IS STILL GOING TO REQUIRE A SEPARATE BUILDING PERMIT FEE.
WE WOULD STRUCTURE THAT FEE TO BE THE SAME FEE SCHEDULE WE CURRENTLY CHARGE FOR ALL OTHER COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES AND WHATEVER THE INSPECTION AGENCY WOULD CHARGE.
THE ONLY FEE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE INCORPORATED TODAY INTO THAT FEE SCHEDULE WOULD BE FOR THE STORAGE PERMIT ITSELF.
WE HAVE CERTAIN THINGS IN THE LEGISLATIVE BILL THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHEN ADOPTING THAT BECAUSE THAT MONEY WOULD BE DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO ESTABLISH THAT WOULD HANDLE ENFORCEMENT AND MONITORING AND ALL OF THAT.
RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SPECIFICS SET OUT FOR THAT FINAL FEE, AND THEN THE RENEWAL OF THAT PERMIT, WHAT THAT RENEWAL FEE WOULD LOOK LIKE.
BUT SO THESE FEES WOULD GET US STARTED WITH ANY APPLICATION THAT WOULD COME IN AND ANY REVIEWS, AND WE CAN TAKE THE TIME TO FINISH WORKING OUT THE DETAILS OF WHAT THAT STORAGE PERMIT FEE WOULD LOOK LIKE.
IF SOMEONE WOULD MEET ALL THE CRITERIA AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ISSUE ONE.
>> WHAT WOULD THE BUILDING PERMIT FEE BE THAT IS PER?
>> WHERE ARE WE WITH THE ACTUAL APPLICATION?
I JUST NEED TO WORK WITH STEWART TO FINALIZE THE AFFIDAVIT PORTION WHERE THEY HAVE TO CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, BUT I'VE PULLED ALL OF THOSE DETAILS OUT OF THE BILL, SO WE CAN GET THAT UP AND RUNNING QUICKLY AS SOON AS WE CAN FINE TUNE THE SIGNATURE PART OF IT.
>> AS FAR AS THE STORAGE FEE, LIKE THE RECURRING FEE, I'M THINKING AT LEAST A COUPLE HOURS FOR
[02:40:01]
A STAFF MEMBER A MONTH TO DO AN INSPECTION AND WRITE GENERATE SOME TYPE OF REPORT.IF YOU TAKE TWO HOURS AT 60 BUCKS AN HOUR, 120 BUCKS A MONTH TIMES 12 MONTHS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT, LIKE, 1,400, 1,500 A YEAR.
>> THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY TESTING WE WOULD DO, WHO WOULD DO THAT AND WHAT THOSE TESTING COSTS WOULD BE.
BUT THE THREE KEY THINGS IN THE REGULATION THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THAT FEE WOULD BE THE ANTICIPATED COST OF MONITORING AND REGULATING THE SITE, THE ANTICIPATED COST OF IMPLEMENTING THE FPR CHAPTER AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF ACTIVITIES OF THE STORAGE SITE ON THE ENVIRONMENT PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE.
THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS WE WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER IN THAT PERMIT FEE.
>> DETERMINING WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND THAT MONEY WOULD GO INTO THE FUND THAT WE WOULD ESTABLISH.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-003?
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
THEN WE MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 2025-004, WHICH IS THE END OF THE DECLARATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE RECENT SNOWFALL. ANY COMMENTS?
>> MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-004.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
>> AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
[Consent Agenda]
COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMMISSIONER BARTZ?>> THE TAHOE FOR CORRECTIONS, WE BUDGETED FOR THAT, RIGHT? THAT WAS APPROVED.
>> THE ONLY REAL BRIEF QUESTION IS THE AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN FOR THE ROAD, WE'RE DONE WITH THAT.
>> ONE SIDE [INAUDIBLE] OF THE BUS SIGN FROM.
>> JUST ALONG WITH THAT, HOPEFULLY, BEFORE WE LEAVE, WE CAN TRACK DOWN A PHONE NUMBER FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR ONE OF OUR SENATORS TO TRY TO PUSH THIS FUNDS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MAYBE WE CAN TRACK SOMEONE DOWN TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT.
OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
>> I EMAILED ALL OF YOU THE MONTHLY REPORT, THAT INCLUDES AN UPDATE ON THE PRIORITY PROJECTS.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THAT I WANT TO RUN DOWN IN THE LIST HERE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN UPDATED SINCE DECEMBER 20TH, WHICH WAS THE DATE OF THAT REPORT.
NUMBER 1, OUR FIRST ITEM ON MY LIST WOULD BE DAYSPRING APARTMENTS.
THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS, WE AGREED TO HAVE AN APPRAISAL DONE FOR THE BUILDING AS WE LOOK TOWARDS POSSIBLY SELLING THAT PROPERTY, SO DANNY HAS STARTED THAT PROCESS. GO AHEAD.
>> YES. WE HAVE SIGNED AN ENGAGEMENT WITH AN APPRAISAL TO BE CONDUCTED ON THE TWO LOCATIONS THERE.
CONTINUING ON DAYSPRINGS, AND I DON'T MEAN TO [OVERLAPPING] STEAL YOUR SPOT.
I'VE BEEN HAVING AN EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
THEY LEFT ME A VOICEMAIL LAST WEEK, INQUIRING ABOUT MEETING WITH KATHLEEN AND MYSELF AND POSSIBLY ONE COMMISSIONER TO TALK ABOUT THE VACANT UNITS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE VACANT UNITS BEING CLEANED UP, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW DIRECTION, VISITS, HOW THAT LOOKS.
IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO TALK AND SCHEDULE UNTIL NEXT WEEK,
[02:45:02]
SO WE'LL PROBABLY LOOK AT DOING TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY.AGAIN, IF THERE IS A COMMISSIONER THAT WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION, WE CAN GET A TIME PICKED AND THAT PUT ON THE CALENDAR SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE AND LAY OUT EXPECTATIONS FOR WHAT WE WANT TO DO THERE.
>> THEN IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO THAT OUR LOBBYIST, BRUCE BEREANO, IS TRYING TO FACILITATE A MEETING WITH SECRETARY BAILEY TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY.
SHARP ROAD PARK, WE ARE WORKING ON FINALIZING THE MINOR SUBDIVISION PLAT AND HAMMERING OUT THE FOREST CONSERVATION ISSUES WITH THE TOWN OF DENTON SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CLOSING.
THE FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS, WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED.
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT REPAIR FUND, WE'VE DISCUSSED.
REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER, WE'VE DISCUSSED.
HOBBS SOLAR, THE SOLAR PROJECT ON OUR OLD LANDFILL.
I SPOKE WITH MATT AND CRYSTAL OVER PLANNING AND CODES LAST WEEK AND THE DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE THAT THE STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET.
MATT IS FORGING ON WITH HIS REVIEW AND GETTING HIS FINAL LETTER OUT.
THAT ISSUE'S BEEN HANGING AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT.
WE WERE WAITING ON GUIDANCE FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
THEN THE GUIDANCE THEY GAVE US DIDN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING FOR US, SO THAT'S WORKED OUT NOW.
JUST A MINOR FYI, THE PROPERTY ON FRANKLIN STREET THAT MR. WIRE IS INTERESTED IN.
I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN DISPOSE OF THAT PROPERTY TO NO AVAIL.
WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK TO OUR DELEGATES AND SEE IF THEY CAN HELP US MAKE SOME REMARK WITH THE STATE.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN DISPOSING THE SMALLER PIECE THAT WILL HELP [NOISE] WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, JUST A REMINDER, RETAINING THE LARGER PIECE REQUIRES CONSERVATION PROJECTS.
THEN THE UPDATE ON THE CANNABIS ZONING REGULATIONS, COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART AND CRYSTAL HAVE DRAFTED THOSE, AND I GUESS THOSE WILL BE ON PLANNING COMMISSION SOON, SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS THERE.
THEN THE LAST ITEM I HAD ON MY LIST WAS THE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE LEGISLATION.
I GUESS THAT'S ON OUR LIST OF LEGISLATION WE NEED TO FOLLOW CURRENTLY WHAT THE STATE WROTE IN DNR'S LEGISLATION DOES NOT MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A MISTAKE.
>> I SENT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING TO MACO, AND STEVE AND BRUCE, AS WELL AS JAMIE WAS ON THERE, BASICALLY ASKING WHAT SHOULD OUR NEXT STEP BE HERE? HAS THAT BILL EVEN BEEN INTRODUCED, THE DNR BILL THAT WE SAW, THE DRAFT? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S OUT FOR PUBLIC.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S STILL YET FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.
AS IT STANDS NOW, WILL BE NICE MOVING FORWARD IN JULY 27, BUT DOES NOTHING WITH OUR UNCOVERED BALANCE.
>> MY CONCERN WITH THE REST OF THE BILL IS THAT DNR HAS SOME PRETTY AGGRESSIVE ASK IN THERE FOR MODIFICATIONS TO PROGRAM OPEN SPACE, WAY MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE ASKING.
WE'RE ASKING FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN AND OPEN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'VE INTRODUCED IT YET, BUT THEY'VE GOT SOME PRETTY AGGRESSIVE REQUESTS FOR CHANGES IN THE PROGRAM.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE BILL MAY NOT PASS AS DRAFTED, SO WE MIGHT NOT EVEN GET ANYTHING.
I'VE ASKED BRUCE AND STEVE, AND WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM TOMORROW, YOU CAN ASK THEM WHAT THEIR TAKE IS ON AN APPROACH HERE.
SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE DEPARTMENT BILL TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, OR ARE WE GETTING CLOSE TO THE POINT WHERE WE VEER OFF AND MAKE OUR OWN SEPARATE REQUESTS? THAT'S CLEANER BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN DONE.
THERE ARE TWO OTHER OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 30 YEARS WHERE ONE-TIME WINDOWS WERE GIVEN TO SPEND ACQUISITION MONEY FOR DEVELOPMENT, CORRECT?
>> IT WAS JUST FOR ONE FISCAL YEAR,
[02:50:02]
YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO TAKE YOUR ACQUISITION FUNDS AND USE IT FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.THE LANGUAGE IS THERE, LET'S JUST CHANGE THE DATES AND REINTRODUCE IT.
IT COULD EASILY BE DONE ON OUR OWN.
THE QUESTION TOMORROW WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM IS, DO THEY RECOMMEND STAYING THE COURSE? DOES IT HURT? I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BILL DEADLINE IS.
DOES IT HURT TO DROP OUR OWN SEPARATE BILL TO DO IT?
>> IT'S LIKE THE BATTERY STORAGE BILL WHERE WE WERE VERY SPECIFIC IN WHAT WE WANTED, [NOISE] AND WE WERE TOLD NO, DON'T DO THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT NOW. HOW MANY YEARS LATER, WE STILL PAY.
WE STILL SCHEDULING MEETINGS AND THEN CANCEL.
>> BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS $450,000 SITTING IN ACQUISITION RIGHT NOW OR OUR ALLOCATION IS GOING TO BE WHAT, 30,000?
>> [NOISE] ONCE WE DRAW DOWN FROM LPPRP, THE REMAINING EXTRA MONEY FOR DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE $17,000 BASED ON OUR CURRENT APPLICATION, SUBJECT TO RIGHT FORMULA, AND NOT UNTIL 2027.
COULD WE SPEND THE 17,000 ON DEVELOPMENT? THE WAY THE DRAFT BILL THAT'S BEEN CIRCULATED IS WRITTEN, SO IT'S NOWHERE NEAR WHAT WE ASKED FOR.
>> WE NEEDED TO BE RETROACTIVE.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I DON'T KNOW IF DANNY.
>> I JUST HAD TWO THINGS, UPDATE ON OUR AUDIT.
WORKING WITH UHY, OUR CONTRACTED AUDITORS, WE WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT OUR UFR AND COMPLETE OUR ACFR FOR THE YEAR ON TIME, GOT IT TO THE STATE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY NOW GOING THROUGH SINGLE AUDIT, 911 AUDIT, AND SOME OF THE SMALLER ONES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOLLOWING THIS.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HAVE ROY COME NEXT TUESDAY TO GIVE HIS AUDIT PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AUDIT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK.
THE OTHER ITEM I HAD IS DOUBLE HILLS.
IN CONVERSATION WITH PLANNING AND CODES, THEY HAVE REVIEWED, I'LL CALL IT THE DOUBLE HILLS INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD THAT IS PART OF THE RURAL MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND.
THERE ARE SOME SMALL CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
COMMENTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE CONTRACTED ENGINEER TO MAKE.
ONCE THAT'S COMPLETE AND APPROVED BY, AGAIN, INTERNAL PLANNING AND CODES, IT WILL BE GOING TO THE TOWN OF DENTON FOR FINAL GRADING PERMIT FOR THE SMALL PORTION THAT HITS IN THE ANNEX PART OF DENTON.
THEN ONCE THAT'S COMPLETE, WE SHOULD BE FINE WITH MOVING FORWARD AND MOVING THROUGH THE BID PROCESS, GETTING A CONTRACTOR AWARDED AND HOPING TO TIME IT OUT TO HAVE THE WORK STARTED AND COMPLETED THROUGH THIS SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, AND NOT PUSH US AGAINST THE DEADLINE OF THE EXTENSION.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS I HAVE.
>> I'M DRAWING A BLANK HERE ON THE FRANKLIN STREET PART. WHERE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> AS YOU'RE HEADED OUT OF TOWN, THAT WOODED AREA ON THE RIGHT, IT'S A LARGE WOODED AREA, [OVERLAPPING] BEHIND THE DANCE STUDIO THAT YOU SEE.
YOU COME AROUND THAT BEND, AND THEN GO TO FULL 4, SO THAT WHOLE WOODED AREA.
HE HAS, I GUESS, HIS PARTNER OR SOMEBODY HE'S WORKING WITH, WHO OWNS PROPERTY THERE, AND THEY ARE PROPOSING SOME TOWN HOME OR APARTMENT COMPLEX.
THE WAY THAT OUR PROPERTY IS SITUATED, WE HAVE A TRIANGULAR PIECE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR PROJECT.
>> JAMIE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT TRIANGULAR PIECE, WAS THAT DESIGNATED AS, WHAT AM I THINKING? THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TRIANGULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY BEING USED WHEN WE WERE, SOME TIME AGO, TALKING ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THAT PROPERTY FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING.
>> IF IT'S THE SAME PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY HAS STIPULATIONS ON IT THAT IT HAS TO BE USED ONLY FOR OPEN SPACE.
AS IT STANDS NOW,[OVERLAPPING] STATE HIGHWAY AGREEMENT COMES IN.
>> CORRECT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE REPLACING STATE HIGHWAY BECAUSE WE CAN'T DISPOSE OF THAT PROPERTY OR DO ANYTHING WITH IT, BUT THEY COULD SELL IT TO HIM.
WE CAN GIVE IT BACK AND THEY CAN SELL IT TO HIM.
[02:55:01]
WE HAVE NO REAL USE FOR IT, EXCEPT FOR THE BIG PIECE BEHIND IT.IT WAS PART OF THE 404 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BACK IN THE DAY.
>> GOT IT. IT'S NOT PROGRAMMABLE SPACE, BUT IT'S THROUGH STATE HIGHWAY.
THANKS. IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING PIECE OF PROPERTY OVER THE YEARS.
>> HOW ABOUT THE RESOLUTION [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I'LL TOUCH ON IT. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
>> IT'S ON JANUARY 3RD AT 2:30.
>> DEAR PRESIDENT BREEDING, WE ARE WRITING TO REQUEST YOUR JURISDICTION TO MUTUAL CONSIDERATION FOR A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A COMPREHENSIVE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR DREDGING ACCUMULATED SEDIMENTS FROM THE CONOWINGO DAM.
THE DAM HAS LOST ITS ABILITY TO TRAP POLLUTANTS RESULTING IN HARMFUL SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT INFLUXES INTO THE BAY, NEGATIVELY IMPACTING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS AND WATER QUALITY.
THE RESOLUTION CALLS FOR AN URGENT ACTION FROM FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO PRIORITIZE DREDGING AND RESTORE THE BAY'S HEALTH.
IT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR COORDINATION EFFORTS TO SECURE FUNDING, IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS, AND PROTECT OUR VITAL RESOURCES.
WE URGE YOUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION TO HELP ENSURE THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION EFFORTS.
YOUR SUPPORT WILL BE INVALUABLE IN ADVOCATING THIS CRITICAL INITIATIVE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.
>> THAT'S PART OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
>> THE PROGRAM, AND I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO AND THEN DREDGE OR GIVE THE PERMIT FOR MARK OR SOMETHING.
>> I HAVE THEIR RESOLUTION THAT THEY PASSED, KENT COUNTY RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-8, A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A COMPREHENSIVE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY SETTLEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN.
DO WE WANT TO CHANGE THE HEADING ON THIS AND PUT IT ON A AGENDA FOR OUR APPROVAL?
>> I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD SUPPORT.
>> WE CAN GET THAT ON THE NEXT.
>> JUST SOMEONE SEND THAT TO ME.
>> THEN WE'LL GET THAT ON MAYBE ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA.
>> DANNY, WHILE YOU'RE THERE, HOW MANY VACANCIES DO WE HAVE EVERYDAY SPRINGS RIGHT NOW? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA VACANT UNITS?
>>THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED US WITH A RECENT NUMBER PROBABLY A MONTH OR SO.
I THINK WE WERE GOING BACK TO MIDDLE OF DECEMBER WHEN THEY WERE TAKING SOME OF THE FIRST ACTIONS, AND AT THAT POINT, I THINK THEY WERE AROUND 12 OR 13, AND WE WERE EXPECTING MORE.
BUT I CAN GET THAT NUMBER AND HAVE IT IN TIME BEFORE WHEN WE DO THE PHONE CALL.
>> COUNTY COMMISSIONER ERVIN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
>> WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THE APPRAISAL?
>> HE SAID IT WOULD BE FOUR WEEKS AFTER WE SIGNED THE ENGAGEMENT, SO I SIGNED THAT LAST WEEK.
>> I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THE AVIA INFLUENZA SITUATION, JUST THE IMPACTS.
EVERY POULTRY FARMER WITHIN SO MANY MILES OF THAT WILL BE AFFECTED.
I MEAN, THEY COULD POSSIBLY MAKE THEM LAYOUT AS WELL.
IT'S JUST IT COULD SOMETHING COULD REALLY IMPACT COMMUNITY.
KENT COUNTY HAD THREE CASES, AND THEY WERE ALL WITHIN A COUPLE MILES OF EACH OTHER.
I MEAN, THERE'S QUITE SUBSTANTIAL POULTRY WITHIN THAT AREA.
THE IMPACTS THAT IT COULD HAVE AND THE PEOPLE IT COULD AFFECT.
IN REGARDS TO TO THE SMELL, THE SMELLS WAS TRAVELING JUST TO LIGHT YOU A LITTLE BIT.
NOTHING MOVES TO POULTRY FARM.
IN OTHER WORDS, EVERYTHING STAYS INTACT.
THERE'S NO BIRDS THAT ARE LEFT THAT FARM AT ALL STAYS AND THEY ARE PUT DOWN WITH INSIDE THE HOUSE,
[03:00:01]
AND THEN HOUSE DOESN'T BEING TOUCHED FOR LIKE SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS.EVERYTHING IS STILL THERE, AND IT'S BEING MONITORED DAILY, I MEAN, NOT DAILY, BUT BY MDA, AND I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF DELAWARE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS INVOLVED AS WELL.
I THINK THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HANDLE ON IT.
I THINK MY MAJOR CONCERN IS AND EVERYBODY WITHIN THAT AREA, JUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE BIOSECURITY.
BECAUSE THIS STUFF IS IT WAS SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE. THIS ISN'T GOOD.
>> WE DID RECEIVE AN E MAIL FROM ROBIN ABOUT MDA.
APPARENTLY, MDA SENT A TEAM OUT YESTERDAY AND NOTED THE ODOR AND THEY'VE INITIATED WORK TO COMPOST TO REDUCE THE ODOR.
>> THAT'S MORE THAN LIKELY WHAT IT WAS FROM?
>> FIRST, I DO I WANT TO COMMEND ROBIN AND YOUR CREW ON THE WORK YOU DID.
WE HAD SOME PEOPLE WHO SITTING IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS, THOUGHT THEY COULD DO A BETTER JOB, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S A TOUGH JOB. I'VE NOT DONE IT.
YOU GO YOU HAVE, BUT I MEAN, DRIVING OUT THERE WHERE THAT SNOW BLOWING IN YOUR FACE FOR ALL THOSE HOURS IS NOT A FUN DEAL, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE QUICK QUESTION, GUARD RAIL AT RIVER ROAD.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN ICY AND SNOWY AND EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK YOU MET WITH THEM EARLY DECEMBER, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YEAH. I NEED TO CALL TO GET AN UPDATE BECAUSE INITIALLY THEY SHUT DOWN FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS, WE TO TRY TO SEE IF YOU GET TO DO IT THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT COMING IN THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.
NOW WE GOT SNOW ON THE GROUND.
I'LL CALL AND GET AN UPDATE ON THAT.
>> I MIGHT HAVE TO MELT FROM MISS UTILITY FOR THEM TO SEE THE MARKS.
>> DURING THE WEATHER EVENT, I GOT ANOTHER PHONE CALL FROM MR. MANDICH.
HE UNDERSTOOD COMPLETELY BECAUSE MY RESPONSE WAS THAT ABOUT GOODEN ROAD, WE'RE NOT THAT'S NOT OUR PRIORITY AT THIS POINT.
BUT I DID TELL HIM THAT YOU WOULD CONTACT HIM.
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE THAT A LETTER WENT OUT FROM MY OFFICE TO THE RESIDENT THERE, THE HOUSE, THAT THE TREE IS ABOUT 5-6X FEET INSIDE OF OUR RIGHT AWAY.
THEY HAD IT DECORATED WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE IT DOWN.
THEIR NOTICE WAS GIVEN THAT WE WOULD REMOVE THE TREE THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I MEAN, HE UNDERSTOOD COMPLETELY AND I THINK HE ACTUALLY MENTIONED YOU [OVERLAPPING].
>> I SEE HIM GET RAIN SCENERY IN THERE BETWEEN NOW AND FEBRUARY, BUT I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE AT LEAST GET THE CHRISTMAS TREES OFF AND OFF OF IT.
>> DOES HE KNOW THAT? DID YOU?
>> MAYBE IF YOU'LL LET HIM KNOW.
I'LL TRY TO REACH BACK OUT TO HIM, BUT HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING.
>> WEEK OF FEBRUARY 1, SCHEDULE.
>> IF I MAY REAL QUICK. COWALL ROBINS UP HERE.
THE FRONT DOOR ON THE COURTHOUSE, JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND THAT POPPED UP, WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THERE, WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO PUT A SECURE DOOR OR FIX UP THE ONE WE GOT, WHAT WE WANT TO DO THERE.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF KEVIN OR ANYBODY IN FACILITIES IS LOOKING AT THAT, BUT ADD THAT TO YOUR LIST.
>> DANNY'S GOT SOMETHING ON IT?
>> THE LAST SECURITY WE HAD UPSTAIRS, THEY REACHED BACK OUT TO THE COMPANY THAT WAS LOOKING TO DO THE WINDOWS AND DOORS, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WILL ACTUALLY MAKE A REPLICA OF YOUR DOOR AND COME AND INSTALL THAT.
I GUESS THERE WASN'T AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY DO THAT, SO THEY COULD COME MATCH UP, SIZE, I MEAN, THAT JAM, AND HOW THAT DOOR LOOKS, FEELS, AND ALL BUT I FEEL BE BULLETPROOF, SO MAY BE AN OPTION.
>> SOMETIME IN MY FIRST TERM WOULD BE NICE.
BUT I MEAN, THAT WAS GRANT CONTINGENT.
>> TO APPLY FOR A GRANT, SO IT COULD BE FOREVER IF WE EVEN GET AWARDED.
>> IDEALLY, WE WOULD APPLY NEXT YEAR TO TRY TO GET AWARDED, AND IF IT WAS AWARDED, THEN WE WOULD GO AFTER.
IF WE WANTED TO OBVIOUSLY DO IT ON OUR OWN, WE COULD AND COULD START THAT AT ANY TIME.
THAT'S JUST WHETHER WE WANT TO TRY TO WAIT TO GET THE GRANT NEXT YEAR THROUGH THE AOC.
>> I'M GLAD TO KNOW THEY CAN MAKE A REPLICA. I MEAN, I DID NOT.
>> YOU WERE GOING TO TEMPORARY DOOR.
>> I WASN'T GOING TO GO FOR THE WALMART WHEN YOU CAME HERE.
[03:05:01]
NO. MARRIAGE TO WALMART, BUT I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THAT.I KNOW KEY IS HERE, AND WE SPOKE LAST WEEK. I THINK IT WAS.
I'VE TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE, BUT ABOUT THE BOND ISSUES, BOND REQUESTS, SO THE MANNY POST SCOTT LEGION NUMBER.
>> 193. I DID FORWARD THAT INFORMATION.
IT IS IN MY UNDERSTANDING NOW IS IT'S IN DELEGATE ADAMS AND DELEGATE HUTCHISON'S DISTRICT, AND THAT WOULD BE SENATOR MUTZ AND SENATOR HUGHES, SHERRY.
>> BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HER DISTRICT HERS IS?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT COMES THAT FAR OR NOT.
BUT IT WOULD IT WOULD BE DELEGATE MOUNTS. I WILL SUPPORT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW YOU GUYS, I MEAN, I WILL SUPPORT IT, I THINK THE OTHER TWO COMMISSIONERS WILL AS WELL.
I FORWARDED THAT, AND I THINK YOU DID AS WELL TO THEM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM OR WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
I TRIED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ONE OF THEM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE TIME FRAME WAS FOR BOND ISSUE APPROVALS, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM THEM YET.
THE OTHER ONE WAS, CAN I SAY THAT YOU'RE NEGOTIATING ON A PROPERTY FOR YOUR YOUTH CENTER? YEAH, I WON'T SAY WHICH I WON'T SAY WHICH ONE.
BUT SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO TOUCH BASE AND TOP.
I WANT TO SAY YOU STUFF UPDATE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO JUST LOWER [INAUDIBLE].
>> I OWE YOU A MEETING WITH MS. FLAMER, SO WE'LL SET THAT UP SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT [OVERLAPPING] WELL, TUESDAYS ARE FREE.
>> WE CAN DO A VIRTUAL HAS EXTENDED CARE.
HAS A DISABILITY, SO MONDAY AND FRIDAY ARE ONLY HER DAY OF DOING CHECKUP.
>> WE WILL DO THAT. BUT THE POSTS LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THAT DONE.
I THINK WHEN I TALKED WITH YOU BEFORE, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SIGN DOCUMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ON BEHALF OF THE POSTS.
GOOD ENOUGH. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE LETTERS TO THE FARMERS ABOUT SOIL.
HAS THAT GONE OUT? ARE WE CLOSE OR BECAUSE I WENT TO THE EVER EXCITING TACH DITCH BREAKFAST THE OTHER DAY, AND I MENTIONED IT AND I THOUGHT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE'VE GOT HIM OUT YET OR NOT.
>> I KNOW WE HAD HAD A QUICK CONVERSATION THERE AND THEN HAD A LITTLE EXCHANGE.
THE LAST THING I HAD FOUND WAS THERE WAS AN EMAIL EXCHANGE, I THINK STARTED BY THE OFFICE EARLY DECEMBER, CIRCULATING A COPY, SO I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE WE WERE DEBATING ON WHERE A MAILING LIST WOULD COME FROM, WAS THAT I PASS THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S IT'S AT.
>> I THINK THE FARM BUREAU HAS AGREED TO KIND OF HELP WITH SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.
THE FARM BUREAU DINNER WAS SCHEDULED, BUT IT WAS CANCELED, I'M ASSUMING BECAUSE OF WEATHER, BUT WHEREVER WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION, I'D LIKE TO GET THOSE OUT, AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN BEFORE WE GO TOO MUCH FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
>>I TEXT JOHN SAT OFF ABOUT IT YESTERDAY AGAIN ASKING HIM TO GET US A MAILING LIST OF ALL THE FARM BUREAU MEMBERS.
I TOLD HIM DON'T FORGET ABOUT IT.
>> IT'S READY, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF CIRCULATING THE INFORMATION.
>> YES, SIR. ALL IT NEEDS IS SIGNATURES FIXED, AND IT CAN BE PUT ON THE INTERNET.
>> WHY CAN'T YOU DO A EVERYBODY WITHIN X AMOUNT OF ACRES ON IN THE DATABASE? WE CAN'T?
>> NO. THE WAY WE GET THE INFORMATION IS FROM THE STATE AND THEY IMPORTANT TO OUR SYSTEM AND THEN IT'S THERE.
WE DON'T HAVE A FILE THAT WE PLAY WITH OR CAN FILTER.
>> IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO ALSO SHARE THAT WITH OUR NEWS PEOPLE AS WELL TO GET THAT CIRCULATED.
[03:10:02]
>> WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S THE LAND OWNERS THAT I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST THE FARMERS, IT'S THE LAND OWNERS THAT ARE THE ONES HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> WE'RE ALL ESSENTIALLY GIVING STAFF APPROVAL TO POST AND DISSEMINATE BY WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW, THAT LETTER.
THEN ONCE WE GET THE MAILING LIST, WE'LL ALSO DO THAT.
>> DO THAT NEED SIGNATURES ON IT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING BACK, OR ARE WE OKAY WITH JUST NOW?
>> I THINK IT NEEDS TO HAVE SIGNATURES A FIXED, AND SIGNED BY ALL THREE COMMISSIONERS.
>> WELL, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE LETTER AND FIX OUR SIGNATURES TO IT.
>> AYE. THE ONLY THING ELSE I HAVE IS THAT WE HAD OUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE BILL REVIEW MEETING LAST NIGHT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY THERE WERE A LOT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO GET SOME MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THESE BILLS, BUT THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT THERE WAS A LOAD OF BILLS BEING DROPPED EARLY, AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN, SO A LOT OF THEM WERE REPETITIVE THAT JUST KEEP COMING BACK.
ONE OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH EMINENT DOMAIN FOR SOLAR.
>> WHAT WAS FOR TRANSMISSION LINES, FOR [INAUDIBLE].
BUT THERE WAS SOME PUSHBACK, AND I BROUGHT UP A POINT ABOUT LONG SWAMP ERA BECAUSE PART OF THAT BRIDGE WAS ON SOME OF THE PROPERTY WE NEEDED TO OBTAIN WAS ON AN OR HAD AN EASEMENT ON IT, CORRECT?
>> I THINK THE CONCERN FROM MACO WAS SUPPORTING THE BILL, I MEAN, IN PRINCIPLE, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WE SHOULD SUPPORT THAT EMINENT DOMAIN COULD NOT BE USED FOR TAKING OF LAND THAT HAD AN AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT ON IT.
APPARENTLY, SOME OF THE COUNTIES ON THE WESTERN SHORE HAVING ISSUES WITH PIEDMONT.
>> WITH PROPERTY THAT'S IN AN EASEMENT, THEY'RE TAKING TO PUT A POWER LINE EASEMENT ON IT.
THIS BILL WOULD PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, SUPPOSEDLY.
IF IT HAD AN EASEMENT, YOU CAN'T EXERCISE EMINENT DOMAIN.
WHAT MARCOS CONCERN WAS WE RUN INTO A SITUATION LIKE LONG SWAN BROAD WHERE WE NEED IT FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IT WOULD PREVENT US FROM BEING ABLE TO DO IT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED US IN THAT SITUATION.
I KNOW WE NEGOTIATED A PURCHASE PRICE FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE EASEMENT.
>> MY CONCERN IS THAT AND I KNOW PEOPLE WILL TALK ABOUT THE TIN HAT HERE, BUT I'M TELLING YOU THAT I BELIEVE DOWN THE LINE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PUSH FOR EMINENT DOMAIN TO TAKE PROPERTY FOR SOLAR, AND I'LL FIGHT THAT TO THE GROUND.
BUT I JUST WILL SAY AGAIN, THAT THE RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNOR ARE NOT REACHABLE UNLESS THEY START DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S THE PLAN DOWN THE ROAD.
EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HAD TO DO OR SEEN TO DO WITH AG PRESERVATION EASEMENTS, THEY'RE UNTOUCHABLE, [LAUGHTER] SO FAR.
BUT A LOT OF INTERESTING BILLS.
WE'LL KNOW A LOT MORE DETAILS TOMORROW.
BUT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY SESSION.
THE GOVERNOR HAS INDICATED SOME, EVERYONE KNOWS THE BUDGET DEFICIT SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN.
I THINK HE'S INDICATED SOME FLEXIBILITY ON THE BLUEPRINT, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHERE IT COMES.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHERE HE'S GOING TO FIND THAT FLEXIBILITY AND KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY BECAUSE I'M ALREADY SEEING QUESTIONS ABOUT ARE THE TEACHERS STILL GOING TO GET PAID, WHAT THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO GET PAID AND THEY'VE GONE OUT AND INCURRED EXPENSES? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S HIS JOB, NOT MINE.
BUT ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO HELP US WOULD BE CERTAINLY, GREATLY APPRECIATED.
>> I DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM SARAH PRICE, WHO'S VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FROM MARYLAND RETAILERS ALLIANCE.
SHE IS ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS TO
[03:15:07]
SUPPORT AND ASKING FOR OUR PERMISSION TO LIST CAROLINE COUNTY ON A LETTER OF SUPPORT BY NAME POSITION AND JURISDICTION.THE LETTER WITH ALL SUPPORTED COUNTY GOVERNMENTS LISTED WILL BE SUBMITTED AS WRITTEN TESTIMONY FOR THE HEARING.
>> YOU ALREADY DID THAT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WAS. IT WAS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> YESTERDAY FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE AGENDA.
>> WITH WHAT? I DIDN'T SEE THAT. WHATEVER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT ONE'S ON THERE. WE DID IT.
GOOD TO GO. CRYSTAL STILL HERE.
I'VE BEEN IN AN EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH A CONSTITUENT CONCERNED ABOUT THE SUBDIVISION ON TODD'S WHARF ROAD.
DID YOU SEE THE LAST EMAIL FROM HIM? HAVE WE ALLOWED SUBDIVISIONS OR THOSE OLD SUBDIVISIONS THAT HAD BEEN.
>> THE ONES THAT ARE REFERENCED, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT, I CAN'T RECALL ANY SUBDIVISIONS IN THE LAST 25 YEARS BACK THERE.
IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT I'D HAVE TO SEE WHEN WE ENACTED THE 30 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY BECAUSE THAT HASN'T ALWAYS HISTORICALLY BEEN BACK TO 1967 IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE, THAT CAME INTO PLAY AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THOSE DEVELOPMENTS WERE DONE PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE 30 FOOT REQUIREMENT.
BUT I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE SUBDIVISIONS.
>> THE 30 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY IS THE ONLY THING.
IF I PURCHASED A PIECE OF PROPERTY ON A PRIVATE ROAD, AND IT WAS 50 ACRES, AND I WANTED TO MAKE 10 LOTS.
THE ONLY THING IN OUR CURRENT CODE PREVENTING ME FROM DOING THAT IS IS THAT THE RIGHT AWAY ACCESSING THAT PROPERTY WOULD HAVE TO BE 30 FEET?
>> YES, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN OUR CURRENT CODE THAT HAS A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LOTS THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED ON A PRIVATE ROAD.
>> TODD'S WHARF ROAD GO PAST MY HOUSE ON THE RIGHT, THAT PRIVATE DIRT ROAD THAT'S GOT TELEPHONE POLES THE SOLES.
>> IT'S JUST RIGHT NOW WITH NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE PLANNING, IT APPEARS THEY PROBABLY HAVE THREE SITES THEY'RE TESTING, BUT IT COULD BE THEY'RE JUST TESTING MULTIPLE SITES FOR ONE DEVELOPMENT LOT OR IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE HOUSE THERE IS ONLY 1,000 SQUARE FEET BUILT IN THE EARLY '60S.
THEY COULD BE PROPOSING TO ADD ON TO THEIR HOUSE WHEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS REQUIRING THEM TO ESTABLISH AN SRA AND THEY MAYBE TESTING FOR THAT BUT HERE'S JUST NO REALLY KNOWN INFORMATION.
>> THE COMPLAINT WAS ESSENTIALLY TO BOIL IT DOWN.
THE COMPLAINT WAS THEY'VE LIVED THERE SINCE, LET'S SAY, THE EARLY 80S, AND THERE WERE FIVE HOUSES BACK THERE WHEN THEY BUILT, IT'S A TERRIBLE, THERE IS NO AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN THE ROAD.
>> PORTHOLES WERE NO REPAIRED.
>> PORTHOLES. THE MORE HOMES THAT ARE BUILT THERE, THE MORE STRESS IT PUTS ON THE ROAD AND NOBODY IS MAINTAINING THE ROAD.
THE PROPERTY OWNER IS CONCERNED THAT A NEIGHBOR COULD SUBDIVIDE AND BUILD 10 MORE HOUSES WHEN IT WAS ONE PARCEL OF LAND WHEN HE PURCHASED HIS OWN.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT'S PREVENTING THAT DEVELOPMENT IS THE 30 FOOT RIGHT AWAY.
IF IT WERE A 30 FOOT RIGHT AWAY, YOU COULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP.
>> WE LOOKED AT SOME SURVEYS THAT WERE RECORDED IN LAND RECORDS FROM THAT POINT OUT TO THE STATE HIGHWAY, AND AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE THEY HAD NOTED ON THEIR 25 FOOT FOR TODD'S WHARF, SO WHETHER THE SURVEYOR PUT IT ON THE SURVEY ACCURATELY, DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S DEPICTED ON THERE.
>> IT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT IN MY ARGUMENT. SHOULD YOU BE ABLE?
>> THERE ARE STILL SOME EXISTING LOTS OF RECORD OUT THERE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DEVELOPED? [LAUGHTER]
>> I'D SAY YOU HAVE A HARD TIME SELLING A LOT BACK THERE.
LET ME GET A SIDE BY SIDE, TOO. GET BACK THERE.
>> EVEN WITHOUT SUBDIVISION, THERE'S STILL POTENTIAL FOR MORE HOUSES BACK THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME [OVERLAPPING] UNDEVELOPED LOTS THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE.
>> THERE'S 10 OR 12 UNDEVELOPED LOTS BACK THERE THAT WERE ALREADY APPROVED.
[03:20:05]
THOSE THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT, BUT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SUBDIVIDE AND CREATE A BUNCH MORE ON A PRIVATE ROAD, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. NOT UNLESS YOU.>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SURVEY OR ANYTHING THAT SHOWS US WHO OWNS THE PORTIONS OF THE PRIVATE ROAD OR IS IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW. HAVE YOU EVER RAN INTO A SUBDIVISION LIKE THIS?
>> OH YEAH. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S COMMON PEOPLE THEY DON'T GET A LAWYER TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU'RE STARTING TO BUILD, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A ROAD MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CROSS EASEMENTS, MAYBE.
WHO OWNS TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD? IS IT THE ADJOINING LANDOWNER OR IS THE ROAD OWNED BY ONE OWNER WHEN THE ORIGINAL SUBDIVISION WAS DONE DECADES AGO, AND THAT ALL THESE OTHER FOLKS HAVE IS AN EASEMENT ACROSS THIS OTHER MAN'S DIRT AT THE END OF THE ROAD.
I KNOW THE ANSWER BY THE LAWYERS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] OUT OF BECAUSE WE'VE EVEN LOOKED AT SOME AREAS WHERE IT'S 30 FOOT WIDE AND ALONG TODD'S WHARF ROAD ACCORDING TO SOME RECORDED SURVEYS.
SOME SHOW 25, SOME SHOW AREAS OF 30 IN FRONT OF THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL.
BUT IN THIS CASE, FOR THIS PARCEL, THEY ARE LIMITED BUT CRITICAL AREAS [OVERLAPPING] RAGS TO DEVELOP.
>> WELL, IN PART, THE ASS WAS FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE THE ROAD OUT RIGHT.
I WAS LIKE, THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE STEPPING INTO [LAUGHTER] THIS MESS.
FOR ONE, YOU GOT TO GET THE POLES OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE ROAD [LAUGHTER].
>> IT'S A CERTAIN AMBIENCE. [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT THERE MAYBE RESIDENTS ON THE ROAD WHO DON'T WANT THE COUNTY TO TAKE THERE MAYBE.
THEY WANTED TO REMAIN A PRIVATE ROAD, MAYBE.
THEY LIKE THEIR MUD HOLES THEY DRIVE THROUGH ALL THE WAY BACK. I DON'T KNOW.
>> WHEN YOU GO BACK DOWN THAT ROAD, IS THERE STILL, LIKE A GIFT SHOP OR SOMETHING BACK THERE?
>> THE TRAY VANS HAVE THAT, BUT THEY ACCESS OFF OF 16.
>> THEY COME OFF THE OTHER WAY. JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I REALLY AGREE THAT IF YOU'RE ON A PRIVATE ROAD, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SUBDIVIDE AND THEY CREATE MORE BUILDING LOTS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S FAIR, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO KICK AROUND.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE OF THAT.
>> BUT YES, TO ANSWER THE SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION WITHOUT LOOKING TO SEE WHEN WE ACTUALLY CREATED THE 30 FOOT REQUIREMENT AND WHEN THOSE SUBDIVISIONS ACTUALLY OCCURRED, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT, BUT I CAN TAKE A LOOK, SEE WHAT?
>> NO, DOESN'T MATTER AT THIS POINT, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT DO WE HAVE IN CODE THAT WOULD PREVENT ANYBODY FROM DOING THAT? WE DON'T.
>> A MAJOR SUBDIVISION WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE ON A COUNTY ROAD, BUT THE MINORS AS LONG AS THEY HAVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> FIVE AND ABOVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THEY'LL STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THEIR MINOR SUBDIVISION.
>> YOU COULD DO FOUR AND BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A 30 FOOT RIGHT AWAY.
>> BUT A LOT OF THOSE PROPERTIES DOWN THERE ARE IN THE CRITICAL AREA, SO THEY ARE SOMEWHAT RESTRICTED IN DENSITY.
>> THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAD.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DAF APPLICATION PRIORITIZED AND GET THAT DONE OUT THE DOOR AS SOON AS WE CAN HAVE THAT STANDING JUST IN CASE WE GET AN APPLICATION.
>> ON THAT NOTE, DID YOU ALL SEE THE RESPONSE FROM MDA THAT THEY ARE OKAY.
THEY WERE GOING TO ADVISE THE APPLICANT.
THEY WON'T GRANT ANY APPROVALS UNTIL THEY'VE RECEIVED THEIR COUNTY PERMIT.
>> THUS, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT APPLICATION IN PLACE AND GO AHEAD AND SETTLE ON THE MAINTENANCE FEE.
LET'S GET THAT DONE, SO IT'S EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE THAT WE NEED TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM.
GET IT UP AND RUNNING SO WE'RE READY.
WITH THAT, WE'LL HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?
[Public Comment]
MR. DEAN, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD TO THE MIC?HOPE TO IN THIS MEETING ON A LIGHTER NOTE, MORE POSITIVE TOPIC, BUT I'M TYPICALLY KNOWN FOR HISTORY/TOURISM IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I REALIZED THE FIRST REQUEST OR THOUGHT/SEED, I'D LIKE TO PLANT, PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE, BUT THAT MARIJUANA MONEY, IF IT CAN BE TURNED AROUND AND SOMEHOW USED TO FULLY FUND TOURISM IN THIS COUNTY BUT ONE CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT WE'RE ALL DISADVANTAGED IN SOME WAY, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC TOPIC OR NOT.
IT WOULD CERTAINLY IMPROVE LIFESTYLE PRACTICED IN THIS COUNTY AND
[03:25:02]
PUT ON DISPLAY FOR OTHERS IF WE WERE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY. SHORT OF THAT.IT WAS A YEAR AGO THIS WEEK THAT A COMMITTEE MET THE 250TH COMMITTEE AND ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS A TIMELINE.
A 250TH TIMELINE WITH ROUGHLY 160 ENTRIES WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY MONTHS AGO.
IT IS STILL NOT UP ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE, SO A REMINDER WHO EVER NEEDS TO DO THAT.
I HOPE THAT RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED TO GET THE RIGHT IT PERSON TO GET THAT UP THERE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF COUNTY RESIDENTS AND OTHERS.
ALSO ON THE TOPIC OF HISTORY, I'M GLAD IT CAME UP ON THE AGENDA TODAY, THE EXTERIOR DOOR.
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OFFERED ORIGINAL RESEARCH ABOUT THE LITERALLY ORIGINAL DOOR ON THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
I'M NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT 1797.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ORIGINAL PLANS BY WILLIAM BUCKLAND IN 1774.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO SUBMIT WHAT I HAVE, I PROFFER TO YOU THAT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY IF YOU'RE ABLE TO FIND AN EXACT REPLICA.
BUT IF YOU DO WANT TO GO AS FAR BACK HISTORICALLY AS YOU CAN, I'D BE WILLING TO AGAIN OFFER THAT.
THE LAST THING THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, AND AGAIN, A REQUEST, AND YOU GUYS ARE FULL OF DISCRETION AND WISDOM AND RESTRAINT TO BEGIN WITH, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD USE THOSE SAME QUALITIES WHEN YOU HOW DO I WANT TO PUT THIS? AS YOU ARE EXAMINING POSSIBILITIES FOR DECLARING ENTITIES TO BE A MEDIA OF RECORD IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I KNOW THERE WAS A BUSINESSWOMAN ON THE AGENDA THIS MORNING WHO IS ASKING THAT THAT PROCESS BE LOOKED AT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ON THE RECORD THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE NEW SERVICES IN THIS COUNTY.
THE WEBSITE THAT THEY SHOWED YOU HAD AN ADVERTISEMENT RIGHT THERE THAT SAID THEY WERE THE ONLY NEW SERVICE IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND THAT'S JUST PLAIN NOT TRUE.
IN FACT, TWO OTHER NEW SERVICES ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.
I'D LOVE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT I KNOW YOU'LL DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND RESEARCH WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, AND BOTTOM LINE, AS LONG AS THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY ARE INFORMED, THEN EVERYBODY WINS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE? NONE SEEN, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT,
[Closed Sessions: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee, and Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (1)]
OR ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B, SECTION 1, AND DO I HAVE A MOTION?>> MOTION SECOND. NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER PORTER.
>> COMMISSIONER BREEDING. AYE.
[Meeting Adjourns]
>> AYES HAVE IT, AND WE WILL TAKE A RECESS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.